While Brad Cresse was ripping a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth to give LSU a 6-5 win over Stanford for the College World Series championship Saturday, Tiger redshirt-freshman Chad Vaught of Ferriday, La., was on the side of the road on a Virginia highway, waiting for the rain to stop.

Vaught is a member of the LSU team who took off after the regionals to begin play in a college baseball wooden bat league in Virginia.

Vaught did not get any playing time at LSU this year but is expected to see action in the future.

That was one reason he playing in a summer league, to get in real-game situations.

That didn’t make this past week any easier, however, as his teammates began their trek to the championship finals.

&uot;I got to watch a little bit of it on TV, and I would go behind the dugout and use my cell phone to call back home and check on scores,&uot; Vaught said. &uot;It was pretty tough.&uot;

The toughest part was the championship game. Vaught watched LSU take a 2-0 lead in the first five innings before his Waynesboro (Va.) team had to hit the road.

&uot;It was pretty nerve-wracking,&uot; he said.

The team bus had to pull over because of heavy rains for several minutes. Vaught was unable to use his phone.

&uot;We finally got word that our game was rained out and we headed back,&uot; Vaught said. &uot;Somebody told me we were losing 5-2 in the eighth inning, so I figured they had put in their first round draft choice and he was shutting us down. I lost a little hope because I knew we hadn’t scored since the first inning, so I was a little worried.&uot;

Upon arriving back in Waynesboro, Vaught immediately called home and got the belated news from his mother, Janet.

&uot;She told me we won and that was a big relief,&uot; Vaught said, &uot;I didn’t have to worry anymore. I had a bunch of superstititions I was going to have to stop going through. I don’t like telling them, but it’s things I had to do the same every day.&uot;

Vaught’s roommate, pitcher Trey Hodges, was named most valuable player of the Series.

&uot;I called and left the message right after I heard, but he wasn’t there,&uot; Vaught said. &uot;Then he called me back and I wasn’t here. But I was real excited for him.&uot;

Vaught said Hodges is a real character.

&uot;He’s a big joker,&uot; Vaught said. &uot;He has a real good personality. He’s not afraid to talk to anybody. He will sit down in the apartment and talk to the wall. And then he will find a way to make fun of it. That’s his way of communicating. He likes to joke around.&uot;

Vaught was also glad to see Cresse get the game-winning hit after struggling through most of the Series.

&uot;Cresse is a great guy,&uot; Vaught said. &uot;Everybody thinks he’s some big bully and that he’s cocky. He’s one of the nicest guys on the team. He will do anything for anybody on the team.&uot;

Vaught has actually only pitched six innings this summer because of a number of rainouts.

&uot;We’ve had six in a row,&uot; he said.

Vaught has come in to relieve starting pitchers.

&uot;I’m not satisfied, but I can’t ever be satisfied,&uot; she said. &uot;If I was, I would be back at LSU right now.&uot;

If Waynesboro does not make the playoffs, Vaught said he plans to return home July 23 for a delayed celebration.

&uot;I&160;knew we could win it, because coach (Skip Bertman) always preaches it in our mind,&uot; he said.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 446-5172 ext. 232 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.