Tschepikow Still Enjoying His Return To Baseball Razorbacks

	It's been a fun ride," Tschepikow said. "I've learned so much about myself. ... This is the icing on the cake. This is what you dream about. It's awesome, man." —Arkansas infielder Ben Tschepikow

Ben Tschepikow had choices.

This time last year the Arkansas infielder was weighing his options, contemplating a return for a fifth season of college baseball. Degree in hand, Tschepikow could have easily walked away from the game and begun his post-baseball life.

Baseball won out for Tschepikow. And he's glad it did as No. 16 Arkansas enters a first-round College World Series game Saturday at 1 p.m. against third-ranked Cal State Fullerton.

"I just didn't want to regret it 10 years from now looking back. It wasn't even about Omaha or anything. It was just about playing baseball."

"I just wanted to sweat and compete and get better, and everything has paid off."

Tschepikow's presence has been a huge benefit to the Razorbacks this year. He's provided a consistent source of leadership, switched positions when necessary and been one of the team's better offensive performers.

Arkansas (39-22) has only one player batting better than Tschepikow, who enters the CWS batting .310. He has a team-leading 16 stolen bases and ranks second with 50 runs and 47 runs batted in for the Razorbacks.

Those are the sorts of totals that folks around Fayetteville figured would be in store for Tschepikow at Arkansas. He grew up playing just a few miles down the road from Baum Stadium and enjoyed a standout high school career.

Injuries - and an admittedly questionable attitude early in his career - kept Tschepikow from initially achieving like he'd hoped. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tschepikow battled an assortment of injuries after wrist problems robbed him of his senior season at FHS. Back surgery kept him out of the Arkansas lineup for all but 14 games in 2006, but he's spent most of the last two seasons healthy.

And he's continued to impress his coach. Dave Van Horn made it clear he would welcome Tschepikow back if the player wanted to come back.

"I've said it before, but he's really grown as a person," Van Horn said. "We've seen a young, immature freshman grow into a player that's really made strides. He's really developed and matured a lot."

Tschepikow could have easily stepped away after a disappointing 2008. He and the team struggled and Tschepikow briefly wondered if walking away would be best.

Physicians' assistant school was waiting. Few could have blamed Tschepikow for walking away.

Deep down, though, Tschepikow knew he wasn't ready to give up baseball. He longed for one more summer of weight work, another fall baseball season and one more crack at making the College World Series.

Tschepikow might have an opportunity at professional baseball. He was drafted in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. If not, he's got a solid back-up plan and a good feeling about his decision to return for a fifth season.

"It's been a fun ride," Tschepikow said. "I've learned so much about myself. ... This is the icing on the cake. This is what you dream about.

"It's awesome, man."