The last time San Jose State went to the NCAA Baseball Tournament, head coach Sam Piraro and the Spartans were savoring more than the moment, they gazed expectantly to the future.

And, why not? The Spartans had been to the College World Series in 2000, were back in the postseason in 2002 and seemed a Western Athletic Conference power in the making, if not regional threat to be reckoned with.

But the barely-tethered hopes turned to grave concerns — and not about baseball — in a matter of a few dizzying months. Piraro was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cell. For 16 months his challenges moved well beyond the foul lines to medical centers where he underwent chemotherapy and stem cell and bone marrow transplants.

The 57-year-old Piraro has regained his health but the program's well-being has been slower to mend. In some ways, the Spartans will tell you, it was almost like starting over from scratch which is why the NAPA Auto Parts WAC Baseball Tournament, which begins tomorrow at Les Murakami Stadium, is one of import for Piraro and San Jose State.

The Spartans have had a run of 30-plus win seasons and this has considerable potential to be their breakthrough season. At 39-18 (15-7 conference), the Spartans are WAC regular season champions for the first time since 2000 and a tournament title, which carries with it an automatic NCAA bid, would put them in the NCAA field for the first time since Piraro was sidelined.

That would be no small milestone for the man who has shaped San Jose State baseball since 1974 and, at 724-538, has long been Mr. Spartan in the sport.

In the hospital, Piraro first focused on recovering his health and returning to his family. Then, there was getting back in uniform to rejoin and lead his baseball family.

It was tribute to his standing on campus that the school kept the job open for him while he battled myeloma. Then, it allowed him to work his way back at his own pace. The gestures still resonate with Piraro, who acknowledges, "I owe them a lot."

The tie to his alma mater is just one of the things Piraro says he has come to more fully appreciate since his illness. Even for someone who was big on considering those in his program "family" in earlier days, he treasures the relationships and time spent on the field more. He exults in the victories and is, if possible, more anguished by the losses.

Which gives you a suggestion what a victorious run this week would mean.