Former baseball Canes coaching, bonding

They all played a key role on the squad Ron Fraser dubbed "The Happiest Team in America," the 1985 College World Series champion Miami Hurricanes.

Now Chris Hart, Calvin James and Steffen Majer are playing a key role in bringing their sons along in baseball. Their sons recently joined forces to play for the Tigers in a 12-under AA travel team tournament in Coral Springs.

Their sons play on different teams in South Florida, but Hart has put together a squad which had all three sons playing in the 10-team Bringin' the Heat tournament at Cypress Park.

"They're all good little players," said Hart. "I just packed them together out of nowhere. Winged it. Like coach Fraser, I'm bobbin' and weavin'."

Hart is coach of the team, which is based in Cooper City. He has kept in touch with James and Majer, whose sons regularly play on other teams but joined forces for the tournament.

"They're all good 11-year-olds," said Hart. "Every guy on the team can pitch. Stefan's son Zakary is a lefty who plays first base, pitcher and left field. CJ's son is Connor James, a catcher and first baseman who's not built like CJ. He's stocky.

"They're not locked into my team. What I'm trying to do is get a tournament team. I want to go to California and play (another ex-Cane) John Noce."

Hart's son, Nolan Christopher, is named after Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan and plays shortstop, second, pitcher and centerfield.

"He wears No. 1 in honor of coach Fraser," said Hart.

Chris Hart works for UPS, Calvin James works for the Miami police department and Steffen Majer works for the fire department in Fort Lauderdale, which is fitting because he put out fires as a member of the bullpen on the 1985 national champions.

Hart played first base and led the team in hitting and RBI. James, the team captain, was the leadoff batter, played right field and led the Canes in stolen bases.

The team included such Cane legends as pitchers Kevin Sheary and Rick Raether, outfielder Mike Fiore and designated hitter-catcher Greg Ellena.

This was the team that Fraser dragged out of bed early on a Saturday morning after players were caught out of their rooms after curfew following a victory over the Florida Gators in Gainesville. He had them running and rolling on the ground to near exhaustion. That night they came from behind to win 6-4 and showed Fraser they were still a happy team.

In the NCAA Regional they lost the semifinal to the Gators 8-1 but won the final 12-9 and Hart was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. At Omaha they ripped Stanford 17-3 but lost to Texas 8-4, then won four straight, three of them by one run including a 2-1 victory over the Longhorns' star pitcher Greg Swindell. In the final they beat Texas 10-6.

"Coach Fraser politicked for everything we had," Hart said. "I learned from the best in business. He was a father figure to all of us, well beyond a baseball coach."

Fraser would be proud to see Hart, James, Majer and their baseball-playing sons.