McCarty Proud of Alma Mater's Underdog Run to College World Series
6/12/2025 1:36:00 PM | Baseball
ACU head baseball coach Rick McCarty has a rooting interest in this year's College World Series (CWS), which begins play Friday, June 13, in Omaha, Neb.
His alma mater Murray State is making its first appearance in the CWS. McCarty was a graduate assistant for the Thoroughbreds in 2003, which was the last time they even played in the NCAA Tournament. (Murray State changed its baseball team's nickname to Racers in 2014 to align with the rest of the athletic department).
"Dan Skirka, their head coach, I've known for probably 15 years," said McCarty. "Dan is an awesome person. I'm pulling for him. You want good things to happen to good people in the industry."
Murray State's improbable run to the CWS has brought a lot of attention to the Kentucky college where McCarty played as a relief pitcher from 2001-2002, and then began his coaching career.
"It was the head coach, assistant coach, and me," said McCarty of the staff for the 2003 season. "It was an awesome year. I got to coach some of the guys I played with."
Murray State came through the loser's bracket to win four straight games in two days and claim the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, sending the 'Breds to their first NCAA Tournament since 1979 where they played in the Hattiesburg, Ms., Regional.
"We had Baylor beat the opening night and threw a bunt away and lost the game. We got throttled by Southern Miss the next day, but there was a moment where we were about to beat Baylor and play Southern University who had upset Southern Miss."
A picture of Murray State's baseball stadium, 800-seat Johnny Reagan Field, has circulated on social media, displaying the stark differences between the Racers' facility and the other teams in the CWS such as Arkansas, LSU, and Oregon State.
McCarty says Reagan Field looks almost the same as when he was there more than 20 years ago.
"[The seating area] used to be all tiered grass and I've mowed every bit of it. As a player you had a lot of responsibilities that our guys don't have to worry about with turf," he chuckled. "I vividly remember the reel mower breaking, and push mowing the infield multiple times."
It may be small and simple compared to what other schools have, but that ballpark is special to McCarty. It's where he played his final games, where he coached his first games, and it's also where he proposed to his girlfriend, Rayna.
"And she said, 'Yes.'"
The two Murray State graduates will celebrate 22 years of marriage in July.
During his junior season, McCarty tied the school record for most saves in a single season with 8 in 2001. That record stood until this year when Murray State's Graham Kelham earned his ninth during the Super Regional against Duke.
McCarty realized the Racers were heading to the NCAA Tournament on the bus ride back to Abilene from the WAC Tournament in Mesa, Ariz. ACU came within a few pitches of punching their own ticket to the national tourney. The Wildcats won three consecutive games to reach the conference championship game, ultimately losing to Utah Valley, 11-9.
"It was bittersweet. You're fired up for your alma mater, but we're coming back home and not playing."
Through his connections with Murray State's coaches, McCarty landed an assistant coaching position at Delta State where he was a part of the Division II national championship team in 2004, and made the Div. II College World Series the following year.
He's been a part of four runs to the Division I NCAA Tournament: 2014 at Campbell, and 2016-2018 at Dallas Baptist.
"Some of my fondest memories as a coach and player are when school is done and you're just playing baseball. I've played in a handful of World Series at the Division II level, and when you keep getting to play that's where the bond grows and tightens to where you remember so much."
One of the Wildcats' mottoes is 'ATO,' an abbreviation for 'Abilene to Omaha.' McCarty has set getting all the way to the CWS as a goal, and it's one he believes this program can accomplish.
"I hope we get that same opportunity at some point where you can replace Murray State with Abilene Christian."
His alma mater Murray State is making its first appearance in the CWS. McCarty was a graduate assistant for the Thoroughbreds in 2003, which was the last time they even played in the NCAA Tournament. (Murray State changed its baseball team's nickname to Racers in 2014 to align with the rest of the athletic department).
"Dan Skirka, their head coach, I've known for probably 15 years," said McCarty. "Dan is an awesome person. I'm pulling for him. You want good things to happen to good people in the industry."
Murray State's improbable run to the CWS has brought a lot of attention to the Kentucky college where McCarty played as a relief pitcher from 2001-2002, and then began his coaching career.
"It was the head coach, assistant coach, and me," said McCarty of the staff for the 2003 season. "It was an awesome year. I got to coach some of the guys I played with."
Murray State came through the loser's bracket to win four straight games in two days and claim the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, sending the 'Breds to their first NCAA Tournament since 1979 where they played in the Hattiesburg, Ms., Regional.
"We had Baylor beat the opening night and threw a bunt away and lost the game. We got throttled by Southern Miss the next day, but there was a moment where we were about to beat Baylor and play Southern University who had upset Southern Miss."
A picture of Murray State's baseball stadium, 800-seat Johnny Reagan Field, has circulated on social media, displaying the stark differences between the Racers' facility and the other teams in the CWS such as Arkansas, LSU, and Oregon State.
Murray St. making it to Omaha is one of the best stories in college sports. This is their stadium it holds 800 people. Their head coach Dan Skirka literally cuts the grass.
— Griffin S. DeMarrais (@GDeMarraisTV) June 10, 2025
Gotta feel good for those guys. pic.twitter.com/YEOPmvHIuj
McCarty says Reagan Field looks almost the same as when he was there more than 20 years ago.
"[The seating area] used to be all tiered grass and I've mowed every bit of it. As a player you had a lot of responsibilities that our guys don't have to worry about with turf," he chuckled. "I vividly remember the reel mower breaking, and push mowing the infield multiple times."
It may be small and simple compared to what other schools have, but that ballpark is special to McCarty. It's where he played his final games, where he coached his first games, and it's also where he proposed to his girlfriend, Rayna.
"And she said, 'Yes.'"
The two Murray State graduates will celebrate 22 years of marriage in July.
During his junior season, McCarty tied the school record for most saves in a single season with 8 in 2001. That record stood until this year when Murray State's Graham Kelham earned his ninth during the Super Regional against Duke.
McCarty realized the Racers were heading to the NCAA Tournament on the bus ride back to Abilene from the WAC Tournament in Mesa, Ariz. ACU came within a few pitches of punching their own ticket to the national tourney. The Wildcats won three consecutive games to reach the conference championship game, ultimately losing to Utah Valley, 11-9.
"It was bittersweet. You're fired up for your alma mater, but we're coming back home and not playing."
Through his connections with Murray State's coaches, McCarty landed an assistant coaching position at Delta State where he was a part of the Division II national championship team in 2004, and made the Div. II College World Series the following year.
He's been a part of four runs to the Division I NCAA Tournament: 2014 at Campbell, and 2016-2018 at Dallas Baptist.
"Some of my fondest memories as a coach and player are when school is done and you're just playing baseball. I've played in a handful of World Series at the Division II level, and when you keep getting to play that's where the bond grows and tightens to where you remember so much."
One of the Wildcats' mottoes is 'ATO,' an abbreviation for 'Abilene to Omaha.' McCarty has set getting all the way to the CWS as a goal, and it's one he believes this program can accomplish.
"I hope we get that same opportunity at some point where you can replace Murray State with Abilene Christian."
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