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If not golf, what about distance running? ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s NCAA distance running champions include Lawi Lalang, Amy Skieresz, Martin Keino, Aaron Ramirez and Abdi Abdirahman, among others.

And if not golf or running, maybe ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is a softball school. The Wildcats have a chain of All-Americans from Susie Parra to Jennie Finch to Alicia Hollowell to Jenny Dalton and beyond.

Everyone knows ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was once known as Point Guard U., with Steve Kerr, Damon Stoudamire, Jason Terry and Mike Bibby, but that was, what, 25 years ago? I’ve got a new nomination: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is a starting pitcher’s school.

When UA sophomore Owen Kramkowski from Sahuarita, who has won a team-high nine games this season, pitched five quality innings in Friday’s College World Series opener against Coastal Carolina, he became the 11th ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ starting pitcher since 1970 to open the CWS with a sound performance. What school can match that? Here’s the evidence that ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is a starting pitcher’s school with a list of Kramkowski’s CWS Opening Game predecessors:

1970: Leon Hooten, a transfer from Long Beach City College, was an All-WAC pitcher who pitched eight strong innings in the ‘70 CWS opener against Florida State, finishing with 12 victories. He eventually reached the major-leagues and pitched four years for the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Toros.

1976: Steve Powers was the ‘76 World Series MVP, beating No. 1 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State in an elimination game, finishing with 11 victories. In the ‘76 CWS opener, Powers struck out eight Sun Devils in eight innings.

1979: Craig Lefferts, who went on to pitch 12 MLB seasons, opened the ‘79 CWS with a six-hit complete game to beat Florida State. He moved to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ from St. Petersburg, Florida, and made the UA team as a walk-on two years earlier.

1980: Jeff Morris, a senior from then-local powerhouse Catalina High School, opened the ‘80 CWS with a loss to St. John’s, led by future MLB All-Star pitcher Frank Viola. Morris gave up just two earned runs. He went on not only to help ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ win the 1980 national title, but was also an assistant coach on the UA’s 1986 national championship team, and an MLB coach/scout for more than a quarter-century.

1985: Joe Magrane, a junior from Kentucky, lost a 2-1 CWS opener to No. 1 Texas, pitching a four-hitter with eight strikeouts. Magrane was a first-round draft pick that month and went on to play eight big-league seasons.

1986: Gil Heredia, a junior from Nogales, was 15-2 entering the ‘86 opener, a victory over Maine. Heredia went on to play 10 seasons in the big leagues.

2004: Koley Kolberg, an All-Pac-10 first team selection, a transfer from Texas, pitched 6²�³ innings in the ‘04 CWS opener against Georgia, and won nine games for the Wildcats.

2012: Kurt Heyer, a two-time All-Pac-10 pitcher from SoCal, went 13-2 on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 2012 national championship team, pitching 7²â�„³ innings in the CWS opener, a victory over Florida State.

2016: Nathan Bannister, a junior from Peoria’s Liberty High School, was an All-Pac-12 pitcher who went 12-2 in ‘16 and beat Miami in the CWS opener, 5-1 with 11 strikeouts.

2021: Chase Silseth, a junior transfer from Tennessee, was an All-Pac-12 choice who went 8-1 in 18 starts, and reached the big leagues later that summer. He did not have a decision in the CWS opener, pitching seven innings against Vanderbilt, a game that went 13 innings.

And now you can add Walden Grove High School’s Kramkowski to the list. How’s that for an impressive list of Wildcat starters in Game 1 of the College World Series? Starting Pitcher U, right?