Michael Barnett flipped a weighted baseball into his hand and threw it against the side of the strength-training room next to UCLA’s clubhouse. Jostling through folding tables, water coolers, television stands and a post-game news conference podium, he resumed his pitching routine, as he would for any start, moving inside the weight room to stretch his right arm with resistance bands.
The junior right-hander’s pregame obstacle course — navigating university staffers, media and more — before trotting down to the bullpen, was outside of the ordinary. Friday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium was different — from the energy on the concourse to the noise from the dugouts and ultimately, the power from the Bruin bats.