Thursday, June 16, 2005 | 9:13 a.m.
Jabe Beard and Calvin Beamon will share familiar turf again this weekend at college baseball's marquee event.
They just won't be wearing the same jerseys.
"Yeah, it will bring back some memories, being in (a) World Series," Beard said Tuesday by phone from Knoxville, Tenn. "It's such a great experience, the fans and playing great teams. This time, on a bigger platform."
As freshmen, Beard and Beamon helped the Community College of Southern Nevada win an NJCAA World Series championship two years ago in Grand Junction, Colo., before going their separate ways after the 2004 season.
Beard, a right-handed pitcher and Foothill High graduate, went to Tennessee after CCSN. Beamon, an outfielder from Aurora, Colo., accepted a scholarship offer from Texas.
Tennessee and Texas both advanced through the first two weekends of the 64-team NCAA tournament to land in the Division I College World Series, which begins Friday at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.
Beamon said Wednesday that he spoke with Beard for almost 30 minutes Tuesday night, and the former Coyotes arranged to break bread while they're in Omaha.
"We'll definitely catch up over dinner," Beamon said from Austin, Texas. "We're proud of that (CCSN) team, and we made life-long friends on that team that we'll be associated with the rest of our lives.
"Any chance we get to hang out and share some time will be a great experience. I'm glad Jabe gets to experience the College World Series, too."
The Volunteers (46-19) open against Florida (45-20) on Friday, and the Longhorns (50-16) begin the World Series against Baylor (44-22) on Saturday. Tennessee and Texas can only meet in the championship final.
"It's special that we went to the junior college World Series together," Beard said. "I always wish the best for (Beamon)."
Neither Beard nor Beamon have played for their respective squads in the NCAAs.
Beard suffered from tendinitis in his throwing arm last fall, which set him back in trying to establish his role on the Tennessee pitching staff.
He has appeared in 10 games, starting once, and is 2-0 with a 4.56 earned-run average. He has struck out 18 batters, walking six, over 23 2/3 innings. Foes have hit .237 against Beard.
"At the beginning of spring, everyone had spots earned," Beard said. "That was a tough thing to do, coming back from that injury and trying to earn a starting spot.
"But I enjoy it all, the players, the school and the atmosphere. I'm healthy now, and that's the good part."
Beard said he hopes to solidify a spot in the rotation next season, when Tennessee will have a young staff.
Beamon has started 24 of 45 appearances, hitting .253. High points included a 3-for-4 game against Stanford and a 3-for-3 effort against Purdue. He also drove in the eventual game-winning run with a pinch-hit single in a game against Nebraska.
However, sophomore Nick Peoples supplanted him as a starter in the middle of the season, when Beamon, a lefty whom Texas coach Augie Garrido rarely lets hit against left-handed pitchers, had trouble shaking a slump.
"(Peoples) got an opportunity, and he's playing real consistent," Beamon said. "That's just how it goes. You can't dwell on the past. I just think I should have taken more advantage of the opportunities I had to secure my spot.
"I can't be mad about it. Nick is playing great baseball, and you have to stick with the nine guys who have been winning."
If called upon over the next week or so by Garrido, Beamon said he will be ready.
"(CCSN) Coach (Tim) Chambers always instilled in us that you can't lose your confidence," Beamon said. "Coach Garrido does, too. It's a game of failure, of ups and downs, and it's how you react to it and grow from that."
He vowed to return to Texas in the fall prepared to have a dynamic senior season that will launch him into a successful professional career, or ...
"Or it won't happen," Beamon said, "and I'll take what I learned from baseball, in general, and apply it to my life. Sports has definitely prepared me for the outside world."
archive
