Redshirt junior right-hander Josh Alger follows through on his motion at Jackie Robinson Stadium. After a myriad of injuries kept him off the mound since his senior year of high school, Alger had to wait till his fourth season at UCLA to make his collegiate debut, which came Feb. 15. (Renee Rubanowitz/Daily Bruin)
Josh Alger came in to shut the door in the Bruins’ 18-2 victory Feb. 15.
But it was probably unclear for many in the stands why sophomore catcher Blake Balsz gave the redshirt junior right-hander a long embrace – or why past and present Bruins flooded social media with words for Alger – after a routine relief appearance in an early-season blowout.
There are friends, there is family, and there are friends who become family.
And the saying rings especially true in sports.
Blood, sweat and tears forge connections that stand the test of time.
Frida Esparza mostly wears black and gray.
She loves Metallica.
And when the graduate student was a sophomore, she rocked pink hair in the fall before swapping it out for a bright, pastel blue dye job in the spring.
Emily Lee’s little sister’s death drew her to health care at a young age.
The UCLA gymnastics senior’s affinity for a healing profession stems from a deeply personal experience that exposed her to the rigorous world of medicine.
Mick Cronin thought Tuesday’s showdown was just going to be business as usual. Then his dad called.
His 83-year-old father let Cronin know he’d be trekking across the country for Tuesday night’s game against Minnesota.
Playing Division I sports is a commitment.
Donning national colors is an honor.
Giving back to the community is a calling.
From competing for UCLA women’s soccer to representing Team Mexico, junior forward America Frias and sophomore midfielder Val Vargas have made names for themselves on the field.
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