Starring in the national championship game at Arizona hasn’t generally led to a big-time baseball career. UA senior pitcher James Farris completed his senior season 6-6, beating Abilene Christian in Friday’s series opener. Farris, who pitched 7⅔ innings in the championship game of the 2012 College World Series, went 11-11 after his streak of epic postseason performances in 2012. Bob Chaulk, who won the title game in the 1976 CWS for Arizona, did not pitch a year later, sidelined with an arm injury and never signed a pro contract. He became a banker in Southern California. Pitcher Gary Alexander, who won Arizona’s 1986 CWS title game, was drafted as a hitter and spent seven seasons in the minor-leagues, hitting a cumulative .246. He became a high school coach in Northern California. Only in 1980, when Craig Lefferts pitched the UA’s title game, did it lead to the big leagues. Lefferts spent 13 seasons in the majors. He is now the pitching coach for the Class A Beloit (Wisconsin) Snappers.
Since NCAA title game heroics, Farris is 11-11
Arizona's James Farris throws a strike during the Wildcat's battle with the UCLA Bruins in front of a crowd of 3,406 at Hi Corbett Field on April 11 in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona has not won a series with UCLA since April 2005.