The Houston Astros clinched the National League Championship on Wednesday night, sending the team to its first World Series in the franchise’s 44-year history, but Houston was not the only place fans were celebrating.Fort Worth is about four hours away from Houston, but TCU students didn’t let location stop them from cheering on their team.
John Athon, a senior political science major, said he grew up as an Astros fan. He was 7 months old when he went to his first game wearing an Astros baseball cap.
“It doesn’t matter where I am,” Athon said. “I love my Astros.”
Marilyn Angel, a junior criminal justice and political science major, said she always believed in the team.
“I’m not surprised (the Astros) defied the odds again,” Angel said. “I’m proud of the team and to be a fan.”
With the Astros strong at-bats and the dominating performance by pitcher Roy Oswalt, the team defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1.
Oswalt allowed three hits and one run in seven innings, and Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler combined to allow one hit in two innings of relief.
Last year, the Astros lost to the Cardinals in Game 7 of the NLCS.
The difference between last year and this year is the team leadership, said Austin Sacco, a sophomore business major.
The team had younger players step up and fill leadership roles this year, he said.
Adam Ramsey, a senior political science major, said the difference was in Andy Pettitte’s return to the postseason.
The Astros had three star pitchers this year compared to two last season, and it made a big difference, Ramsey said.
Looking toward the World Series, Angel said she is confident in the Astros.
“The team has come this far, and they will go all the way,” Angel said. “If (the Astros) stay focused, they will win.
Sacco said he is hopeful the Astros will win.
“The White Sox are a good team, and the pitchers are doing really well,” he said, “but the Astros have momentum.”
Ramsey said he likes the match up between Chicago and Houston.
“They are similar teams, both relying on strong starting pitching,” Ramsey said. “I like Houston’s edge in the bullpen.