A New Ballgame : Dedeaux Says This Season’s USC Team Has What It Takes

When last seen, USC’s baseball team was being unceremoniously dispatched from the West I regional tournament last spring at Fresno State’s Beiden Field.

The Trojans had the dubious distinction of being the first team to lose twice in the four-team, double-elimination tournament. They were beaten by eventual tournament--and national--champion Cal State Fullerton, 10-6, and by Fresno State, 15-12.

Although USC’s season ended much sooner than Coach Rod Dedeaux had hoped, just making the playoffs was a tonic for him.

From 1979, the year after its last College World Series victory, through 1983, USC’s overall record was a mediocre 149-133-1. Its Pacific 10 Southern Division record was 69-81.

But the Trojans turned it around in 1984. They were 44-23, up from 32-23-1 in 1983. They finished second in the conference with an 18-12 record. The team batting average of .296 was 11 points better than 1983’s, and they hit 85 home runs, 21 more than the previous year.

“I was very pleased with our improvement. . . . It felt so nice to be back in the playoffs,” said Dedeaux, who has won 28 of USC’s 33 conference titles and all 11 of the school’s national championships.

“I thought we were one of the best clubs around, but our lack of depth hurt us in the regional. We lost the two players against Fullerton, and we couldn’t replace them. We were leading at the time, too.”

Actually, the score was 3-3 when, with one out in the top of the fifth, second baseman Craig Stevenson and right fielder Mark Steevens collided while going after a pop fly. Steevens made the catch but dropped the ball when he hit the ground. Fullerton scored three runs in the inning and went on to win.

“And we lost to Fresno State because of defense,” Dedeaux said. “Two balls got through the infield that should have been caught, and both led to runs.”

True enough, but poor pitching and the inability to capitalize on several scoring opportunities also contributed to USC’s defeat by Fresno State.

But, as the saying goes, it’s a new year--this one is Dedeaux’s 44th as USC’s coach--and he believes the Trojans have the necessary ingredients to win the conference title.

“I really feel that we can,” he said. “You can’t lose players like (Mark) McGwire, (Jack) Del Rio, (Sid) Akins, (Randy) Robertson, (Jeff) Brown and Stevenson and not be hurt, but I think we have more depth this year. That and solid defense at almost every position are our strengths.

“And the return of (Dan) Henley is a big plus. He’s truly an outstanding ballplayer. If we’d had him the whole year we would have won the league, no question about it. He was developing into one of the league’s best second baseman. He anchored our infield.”

Henley, a junior who will play third base this year, tore ligaments in his left knee while turning a double play against Arizona State in the second conference series. He batted .296 in 30 games.

Dedeaux also appears to have recruited several skilled players. Heading the group is Jeff Wetherby, a transfer from College of the Canyons, who will play right field.

Wetherby, the state junior college player of the year, batted .592 (71 for 120), with eight homers and 23 doubles. He drove in 48 runs, scored 60 runs and stole 15 bases in 16 attempts.

“I expect him to be a big help,” Dedeaux said. “I’m very high on him. He’s an excellent left-handed hitter with some power who will help fill the void left by Brown in our outfield.”

If USC has a weakness, it’s a lack of power. All-American first baseman McGwire hit 32 homers last season as a junior, and Brown hit 13. McGwire, however, signed with the Oakland A’s last summer, and Brown graduated.

“We don’t have anywhere near the sock,” Dedeaux said. “And there’s a big hole at first base. We’ll miss McGwire’s offense (he hit .387 and drove in 80 runs), but he also was outstanding on defense.”

Playing at Dedeaux Field won’t be much of an advantage for USC this season. Previously a paradise for home-run hitters, it now resembles an airport. The park became part of the Olympic Village last summer, so the outfield fences were taken down.

Its new dimensions are 335 feet down the foul lines, an increase of 15 feet; 375 to left-center, an increase of 10 feet, and 425 to center, an increase of 25 feet. The right-center alley remains 365 feet.

A position-by-position evaluation, with comments by Dedeaux:

PITCHERS: “If our young pitchers come through, we’re going to be tough. I’m very optimistic.” The ace of the staff is sophomore right-hander Brad Brink, who was 5-4 with a 4.31 earned-run average. He also saved three games. “I thought he was outstanding last year. For a freshman, he showed tremendous poise and intelligence.” Joining Brink as a starter is junior Randy Johnson, a 6-10 left-hander who was 5-3 with a 3.35 ERA and had 73 strikeouts in 78 innings. “I look for him to come into his own this year.” Ron Roebuck, also a junior left-hander, has moved into a starter’s role after an impressive showing in fall practice. He was used strictly in relief last year (43 innings in 22 games, 1-1, 2 saves, 3.95 ERA). Top candidates for the fourth spot are sophomore left-handers Steve Bast (1-0, 3.71 ERA), and Brian Brooks (2-0, 9.90 ERA). The bullpen stopper is Rick Weible, a senior right-hander who was 7-1 with 7 saves, a 2.77 ERA, 37 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 39 innings. “He’s steady. He throws strikes and changes speeds well.” John Johnson, a sophomore right-hander up from the junior varsity, and Chris Shiflett, a hard-throwing freshman right-hander from La Sierra High in Riverside, also will be used in relief.

CATCHERS: Jack Del Rio will have to be replaced. An All-American linebacker last fall and a probable first-round pick in the NFL draft, he has decided to concentrate on football. He batted .342 and had 7 homers and 36 RBIs last season. “A big loss. I really believe he’d be a major-league prospect if he concentrated on baseball.” Senior Damon Oppenheimer, a backup last season, has inherited the starting job. “He’s improved his defense tremendously.” His hitting is a question mark, though. He batted only .224 with 8 RBIs. Oppenheimer is being pushed by Brian Nichols, a freshman from El Cerrito High in Berkeley. “It’s a tough thing when you talk about a freshman cracking the starting lineup, but he’s a well-rounded ballplayer. He can throw, and he knows what he’s doing out there.” Sophomore Paul Fuller, up from the junior varsity, provides depth. Dedeaux likes to have three catchers.

INFIELDERS: “We have five guys to play three positions (second base, third base and shortstop), so I feel good about our infield.” Dan Henley is the starter at third. Junior Frank Anguiano (.309 in 37 games) will play some at third and may also be used as the designated hitter. Junior Jim Wilkey (.259) returns at short. “A fine defensive infielder. He works hard.” Al Villasenor, a sophomore, will back up Wilkey. Ken Housley, another sophomore, was impressive during fall drills and will take over at second. “He looks like a pretty good hitter.” The probable starter at first base is Larry Price, a junior used primarily as a pinch-hitter (.294) last season. Junior Scott Sommers (.294, 4 homers, 36 RBIs), who played second, third and spent time as the DH, worked at first base in the fall but is out indefinitely with a bad back. A freshman to watch is Rodney Peete, a shortstop from Shawnee Mission South High in Kansas who was a reserve quarterback for the Trojans. “He’s going to be a good player. It’s just a question of when. He’s an outstanding athlete. I’m really high on him.”

OUTFIELDERS: Jeff Wetherby is set in right field but center and left are open. Senior Randy Gabrielson (.188 in 25 games) is the probable starter in center. “He’s much improved.” Sophomore Kevin Janik (.241 in 19 games) also will play in center. “He did a good job on defense. He has that ability to make things happen, and he has good power for his size (5-8, 160).” The top candidates in left are seniors Mark Steevens (.284) and Tim Tyson (.267). Look for Randy Tanner, a freshman from Bishop Amat High who was a wide receiver for the Trojans, to get some playing time. “I tell you, he’s going to be a good one.” Senior Alby Silvera is listed as an outfielder, but he’ll be the DH. Last season he batted .332 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs. “There’s no question about his hitting. He constantly makes contact (22 strikeouts in 247 at-bats), and his power has increased.”