51s’ Olympians recall shining moment

Short of getting called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers and helping them win the World Series this season, 51s relief pitcher Mike Koplove probably won't be able to top his recent experience playing for the bronze medal-winning U.S. Olympic baseball team in Beijing.

"It just blew my expectations out of the water, how great it was," said Koplove, who walked one, struck out six and didn't allow a hit or a run in 5 1/3 innings for Team USA. "What an amazing experience to get to go there and be around all those athletes. It's something I'll never, ever forget."

Koplove has pitched in the big leagues each of the last seven seasons -- compiling a 15-7 record with a 3.82 ERA -- but he said helping his country capture a medal "is easily the best moment of my career."

"It was basically the best experience of my entire life," he said. "Just going to the Olympics is something, but to actually win a medal was amazing.

"It wasn't the medal we wanted, but it was definitely something we'll take. It was a great joy to win that medal."

51s third baseman Terry Tiffee also excelled for Team USA, starting all nine games (6-3) and finishing second on the squad in batting, with a .324 (12-for-37) average, six doubles and five RBIs.

"It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime deal for us," said Tiffee, who was activated Wednesday by Las Vegas, along with Koplove, and went 2-for-5 in the 51s' 9-3 win over Fresno at Cashman Field. "It was kind of surreal walking around the (athletes') village and just being there and playing for Team USA.

"It's right up there with (playing in) your first big league game."

After losing two of its first three games in Beijing -- to eventual gold medalist South Korea and eventual silver medalist Cuba -- the United States won four in a row to set up a rematch with Cuba in the semifinals.

Cuba, which earlier had defeated the United States 5-4 in 11 innings, scored six runs in the eighth inning to break open a close game in a 10-2 victory.

Playing for the bronze medal the next morning, Team USA erased an early 4-1 deficit on its way to an 8-4 victory over Japan.

"(Winning a medal) was really what we were trying to do," said Tiffee, 29, who was named Monday to the All-Pacific Coast League team and leads the PCL with a .375 batting average. "You don't want to be the fourth-place team."

Standing on a platform with his teammates during the medal ceremony, Koplove became emotional.

"When they put that medal around your neck and hand you the flowers, it was unbelievable," he said. "And during the raising of the flag, you kind of get choked up a little bit watching that."

Besides winning the bronze medal, Tiffee and Koplove said the opening ceremony and staying in the athletes' village were highlights of their trip.

"When we came into the stadium, we were all chanting 'U-S-A, U-S-A,' " Koplove said of the opening ceremony. "The crowd erupted when they saw us, and when they announced the United States of America on the board, it was impossible not to get chills at that point."

Koplove, who turns 32 on Saturday, said staying in the village with athletes from more than 100 nations "blows you away."

"To see all those amazing athletes is just a really cool experience," he said.

Whether or not Koplove or Tiffee get called up to the Dodgers in September, they've had quite a year.

"I'd love to get up there in September and help them out, but that's out of my hands," said Koplove, who pitched a perfect ninth for the 51s on Wednesday to lower his ERA to 3.42. "If not, I'll still consider it a really good season for me, with the Olympic experience."

• NOTE -- The Dodgers designated infielder Pablo Ozuna for assignment and recalled infielder Blake DeWitt from the 51s.