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MySpaceRattler Resurgence:
Back in the National Spotlight
by Chad Peters, Sports Information Coordinator
Ivan Sigala celebrates scoring the winning run in a 2-1 victory over St. Edward’s in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Warrensburg, Mo.
Billy Richard (center) is mobbed by teammates following his walk-off hit in the come-from-behind win over St. Edward’s.
The Rattlers pose with the regional-championship trophy.
Skye Severns holds on tight to the trophy.
The Rattlers spend an afternoon with the Boys & Girls Club of Raleigh, N.C., before the National Championship Series in Cary, N.C.
Tyler Migl makes contact on a two-run home run that spurred a 13-2 victory over Indianapolis at the national tournament.
Weston Heiligman dons the rally cap — a symbolic image of the Rattlers’ wild championship run.
Catcher M.P. Cokinos grew up dreaming of playing for his hometown Houston Astros. And now it could come true. Cokinos, a junior, was chosen by the Astros in the 31st round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in June. “This has been my dream,” he said. “I couldn’t have done it without everybody in the whole Rattler family.” Cokinos was a Daktronics Third-Team All-America selection after batting .333 with 55 RBIs and eight home runs this season. “I’ll remember this year for the rest of my life,” he said. “I’m a Rattler until the day I die.”
Carl O’Neal has never been a fan of the spotlight, gladly deferring postgame interviews to his teammates whenever he can. But the junior’s stellar performance on the mound didn’t exactly warrant such humility. O’Neal, the Rattlers’ top starting pitcher, was named the Daktronics National Pitcher of the Year after going 14-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 101 strikeouts this season. A consensus First-Team All-America honoree, O’Neal became the first Rattler baseball player ever to be recognized as the nation’s top player.
Like Father, Like Son: Fate on the Field
It's a photo Tyler Migl barely goes a day without seeing: that lasting image from 11 years ago of the faces of Tyler and his younger brother Jason, up close and completely covered in gold and blue.
It is a shot so precious, test so timeless, that it — not a picture of the actual winning team — graced the front page of the Montgomery, Ala., newspaper after the Rattlers' national-championship-winning chase there in 2001.
“It takes you back a little bit,” Tyler said. “My grandparents keep it at their house, and my dad has it above his desk in his office. You see that and it's kind of like, ‘I want to be there.’ ”
He returned there this year.
Playing for his dad, Charlie (the Rattlers' longtime baseball coach and St. Mary’s athletics director), Tyler helped lead St. Mary’s back to the NCAA Division II College World Series for the first time since they won it all in 2001.
Soon after winning the regional tournament in May and earning their second berth to the World Series, Charlie Migl remembered the feeling from 11 years ago: “Back in '01, when we won the national championship, it was real special,” he said, fighting back tears. “Tyler was small and I thought, ‘You know, if he could ever play for me and go back to the World Series as a player, it’d be special … ’ ” Pumping his fist, he added: “We’re going.”
For Mary Migl, Tyler’s mother and Charlie’s wife, the event was particularly sweet.
“Every time I see the picture of them celebrating the regional championship it makes me cry,” Mary said. “I see a beautiful picture of a father and a son realizing their dream of getting to play together the game they love so much.”
A year after being named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year, Tyler saw his batting average dip but his value to the team soar, ranking among the team leaders in runs scored (50), RBIs (32), home runs (4), doubles (14) and walks (42). Meanwhile, Charlie eked closer to his 1,000th career win, settling in at 975 by season's end.
“It was a goal we set when I came to St. Mary’s four years ago,” Tyler said of getting back to the World Series. “I’m very happy, especially for my last year, to go out this way. It’s just a great accomplishment for both of us.”
But once that rowdy celebration died down, a quieter scene played out a few feet away. There, a father and son embraced, living out a moment they had long dreamed would come true.
“Eleven years later, right?” Charlie asked his son during the big bear hug. “We’re going back.”
Back to where they were 11 years ago.
“People talk about making dreams come true,” Tyler said. “This was a dream, a goal. For it to come true, especially in my last year, it feels like there was a little fate playing a part of it.”
It's a photo Tyler Migl barely goes a day without seeing: that lasting image from 11 years ago of the faces of Tyler and his younger brother Jason, up close and completely covered in gold and blue.
It is a shot so precious, test so timeless, that it — not a picture of the actual winning team — graced the front page of the Montgomery, Ala., newspaper after the Rattlers' national-championship-winning chase there in 2001.
Tyler Migl (right) and his younger brother Jason in 2001.
“It takes you back a little bit,” Tyler said. “My grandparents keep it at their house, and my dad has it above his desk in his office. You see that and it's kind of like, ‘I want to be there.’ ”
He returned there this year.
Playing for his dad, Charlie (the Rattlers' longtime baseball coach and St. Mary’s athletics director), Tyler helped lead St. Mary’s back to the NCAA Division II College World Series for the first time since they won it all in 2001.
The Road Back
Just a wide-eyed young fan back then, this time Tyler was the starting first baseman as the Rattlers advanced to the national championship in Cary, N.C. And as Tyler and Charlie each learned, there was nothing quite like a father-son tandem leading their team to a regional championship and a trip to the College World Series.Soon after winning the regional tournament in May and earning their second berth to the World Series, Charlie Migl remembered the feeling from 11 years ago: “Back in '01, when we won the national championship, it was real special,” he said, fighting back tears. “Tyler was small and I thought, ‘You know, if he could ever play for me and go back to the World Series as a player, it’d be special … ’ ” Pumping his fist, he added: “We’re going.”
Inching Toward the Goal
And while repeating the national championship was not to be, the Rattlers had a magical run to the World Series, earning a No. 1 national ranking, winning the second-most games in program history (49) and earning their third-straight South Central Regional berth — this time taking the crown.For Mary Migl, Tyler’s mother and Charlie’s wife, the event was particularly sweet.
“Every time I see the picture of them celebrating the regional championship it makes me cry,” Mary said. “I see a beautiful picture of a father and a son realizing their dream of getting to play together the game they love so much.”
A year after being named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year, Tyler saw his batting average dip but his value to the team soar, ranking among the team leaders in runs scored (50), RBIs (32), home runs (4), doubles (14) and walks (42). Meanwhile, Charlie eked closer to his 1,000th career win, settling in at 975 by season's end.
“It was a goal we set when I came to St. Mary’s four years ago,” Tyler said of getting back to the World Series. “I’m very happy, especially for my last year, to go out this way. It’s just a great accomplishment for both of us.”
A Vision Comes to Life
As a team, the Rattlers had envisioned their May 20 Regional Championship celebration long before it ever took place. Last year, the team had to watch the victorious Central Missouri Mules’ celebratory dog pile at V.J. Keefe Field. This year, they wanted to do the same on Central Missouri’s diamond. And dog pile they did after winning the regional title.Repeating what St. Mary’s first earned 11 years ago, father-and-son tandem Charlie and Tyler Migl earned a return trip to the College World Series this year.
“Eleven years later, right?” Charlie asked his son during the big bear hug. “We’re going back.”
Back to where they were 11 years ago.
“People talk about making dreams come true,” Tyler said. “This was a dream, a goal. For it to come true, especially in my last year, it feels like there was a little fate playing a part of it.”
