UCLA has its eye on national championship

There was an important lesson learned by UCLA’s baseball team last year en route to its most successful season in school history: Don’t celebrate with a dog pile.

The Bruins lost one of their best hitters, infielder Tyler Rahmatulla, to a broken hand during a postgame victory celebration in the Super Regionals. Insult was added to injury when South Carolina’s pitchers shut down the Bruins’ hitting in consecutive victories in a best-of-three series for the national championship.

Rahmatulla is healthy for his junior season even though he broke his foot on the first day of fall practice. Also back is sophomore outfielder Cody Keefer, who sat out the last 20 games because of a leg injury. An improved UCLA hitting attack, combined with the return of All-American starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, makes the Bruins one of the favorites to return to Omaha.

“This team is very hungry,” Coach John Savage said. “We didn’t win a national championship. Only one team can do that. We feel we’re building that identity and mentality every day.”

One concern for the Bruins is developing a dependable closer. Four prize freshman pitchers — Adam Plutko (Glendora), Zack Weiss (Irvine Northwood), Eric Jaffe (Oakland Bishop O’Dowd) and Nick Vander Tuig (Oakdale) — will try to help replace pro signees Rob Rasmussen and Dan Klein. The Bruins open their season with a three-game home series against San Francisco beginning Friday at noon.

Here’s a look at Southland teams:

UCLA (2010: 51-17)

The Bruins started 22-0 last season thanks to experienced pitching. Savage will use the nonconference season to figure out his bullpen. Vander Tuig will get the first crack at being the closer, with Plutko as the Sunday starter. Freshman Patrick Valaika (Newhall Hart) will start at shortstop.

Top newcomer: Plutko was a sixth-round draft choice of the Houston Astros. He led Glendora to a Southern Section Division 2 championship.

USC (28-32)

Former Loyola Marymount Coach Frank Cruz takes over for Chad Kreuter. He’s listed as an interim coach, but if the Trojans perform well the job can be his. USC finished last in the Pac-10 because of inconsistent pitching and too many errors. The Trojans return one of the most feared hitters on the West Coast in first baseman Ricky Oropesa, who had 20 home runs and 67 RBIs as a sophomore.

Top newcomer: Right-hander Austin Wood, a junior college transfer from Niceville, Fla., was a fourth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays. He was 3-0 with an earned-run average of 0.58 in the Cape Cod League.

Cal State Fullerton (46-18)

There might not be a pitcher in the nation with a better changeup than junior Noe Ramirez (12-1, 2.54 ERA). Pitching should be a strength for the Titans, who also return Nick Ramirez, Dylan Floro and Tyler Pill. Replacing shortstop Christian Colon, a first-round draft pick, will be a challenge. Freshman outfielder Michael Lorenzen should add punch to the batting order.

Top newcomer: Junior third baseman Joe Terry from Cerritos College is back from an injury.

UC Irvine (39-21)

Coach Mike Gillespie always has good pitching, but this season it’s young and unproven. It will be up to the hitters to provide help. Infielder Brian Hernandez was a first-team All-Big West selection. Outfielder Drew Hillman hit .352.

Top newcomer: Freshman pitcher Andrew Thurman got lots of big-game experience pitching for Orange Lutheran in the Trinity League.

Long Beach State (23-32)

First-year Coach Troy Buckley, known for developing pitchers, has his work cut out for him. The team will be relying on new faces and hoping freshmen such as infielder Jeff Yamaguchi, the Moore League player of the year from Lakewood, can contribute immediately.

Top newcomer: Shawn Stuart from Merced College was the Central Valley Conference pitcher of the year and a JC All-American.

UC Riverside (32-23)

Justin Shults returns for his senior year after contributing 23 multiple-hit games while leading the team with a .390 batting average. Pitcher Dustin Emmons was 9-4 with a 3.99 ERA.

Top newcomer: Freshman pitcher Dylan Stuart, a left-hander from Riverside Poly, has the makeup to help immediately.

UC Santa Barbara (24-30)

No. 1 starting pitcher Jesse Meaux returns after going 8-3. First baseman Trevor Whyte led team with 59 hits. Outfielder Mark Haddow is a three-year starter.

Top newcomer: Left-hander Zak Edgington was the Western State Conference North Division pitcher of the year for Santa Barbara City College.

Cal State Northridge (29-27)

Former Fresno State assistant Matt Curtis takes over as coach of the Matadors and has ex-Dodger Tim Leary as his pitching coach. They will rely on junior college transfers to add hitting and pitching punch to the lineup. Outfielder Drew Muren and infielder T.S. Reed have demonstrated the ability to steal bases.

Top newcomer: JC transfer Carlos Gonzalez, a right-handed pitcher, could earn a spot in the weekend rotation.

Pepperdine (24-30)

Preseason all-conference picks include second baseman Joe Sever, who led the team in hitting at .310, and center fielder Brian Humphries, who contributed 17 doubles. The Waves lost three key pitchers, and finding capable replacements will be crucial.

Top newcomer: Pitcher-outfielder Scott Frazier, a freshman from Upland, was selected in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Loyola Marymount (23-33)

Outfielder Matt Lowenstein was the West Coast Conference freshman of the year after hitting .344. Outfielder Ryan Hawthorne was an all-WCC pick after batting .364. There’s more hitting strength with infielder Jonathan Johnson, who batted .315.

Top newcomer: Freshman first baseman Bret Dahlson, from San Juan Capistrano JSerra.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com