CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) - in 1990 Phil Tobin played shortstop on The Citadel's baseball team that made it all the way to the College World Series.
"Heck I don't even remember it it happened so fast, feels like we touched down, played three games and we were back in the sky coming home. But just a
cool experience still."
Three and a half decades later, youngest son Lane is a starting infielder on this years Bulldogs squad.
"Got injured at the beginning of the season. So getting to come back and play it's been really fun with these guys and this group of people and makes you want to win with them," said Lane.
As the son of a Citadel grad, Lane grew up going to the Joe to cheer on the Dogs.
Not heavily recruited out of Summerville HS, his collegiate career began at USC Sumter.
"I've always wanted this so trying to get on the right track trying to win some baseball games. So always wanting to be here, just want to get [us] back on the right track."
"Just a proud moment first time I saw him in a Bulldog uniform. Just sitting up in the stands being dad and I really enjoyed that," said Lane's dad Phil.
A high school assistant for many years, Phil turned down a coaching job because Lane wanted him to be around, to be at all of his games
Just so happens Phil now has one of the best seats in the house.
"Coming back here putting that uniform on again after heck 35 years and then walking in that dugout watching these kids play, we have a special group of kids here."
The eldest Tobin is now an assistant on Russell Triplett's staff and serves as The Citadel's first base coach.
"Once we leave the field its father, son. But when we're in the lines it's coach, player. There's a good dynamic there and we like to keep it a little equal," Lane said.
Phil was at The Citadel first. His son helped him return.
Following in his dad foot-steps, Lane is making Phil proud whether at home or at the park.
As he brings back memories from the number they both share on their back.
"I get a lot of messages from my buddies, my teammates from back then. And its always number one. We see number one doing this, number one doing that. It's pretty cool, I'd be lying if I said it didn't put a smile on my face," Phil Tobin said. ...read more read less
