Western Athletic Conference Baseball : Jim Dietz Would Really Be Happy With a Title

A few years ago, Jim Dietz wouldn’t have been satisfied just to be in the Western Athletic Conference baseball playoffs. Dietz--with teams perennially ranked in the Top 10--wouldn’t have been happy unless his Aztecs won the WAC playoffs.

They never have.

This year, however, Dietz is happy, and SDSU hasn’t even started the playoffs.

The reason? SDSU won its last 15 conference games--including four straight over Hawaii last weekend--to win the WAC’s Western Division championship. Before the streak started, SDSU was 1-8 and last in the West. The Aztecs, unranked through the season, are ranked 14th in the country.

“Considering where we’ve been this year, I’m just happy we’re a part of this thing,” Dietz said.

The WAC playoffs will be held at San Diego State’s Smith Field for the first time. The double-elimination tournament starts today with Wyoming playing Hawaii at 3 p.m. and SDSU playing New Mexico at 7 p.m.

“Being in the WAC playoffs wasn’t even in my imagination a few weeks ago,” Dietz said. “That we won the division and are hosting the thing is like a fantasy.”

Dietz compared this season to some Aztec teams that included Tony Gwynn of the Padres and Bobby Meacham of the Yankees.

“This week has been like the old days,” he said Wednesday. “The only difference, I hope, is that we win the thing this time.”

Here’s a look at the teams in the tournament:

SAN DIEGO STATE Coach: Jim Dietz (15th year, 651-350-13)

Record: 16-8 WAC, 39-20-1 overall

Finish: First in Western Division

National ranking: 14th

Outlook: SDSU has won 18 of its last 20 overall. The pitching is led by sophomore right-hander Mike Erb and junior left-hander Matt Haar. Erb (9-3) pitched a no-hitter April 22 against Utah and beat Hawaii, 7-1, in his last outing Saturday. Haar had a victory and two saves in the Aztecs’ sweep of Hawaii last weekend. Leadoff man Eric Woods leads the team in hitting with a .387 average. Steve Montejano, whose two-run ninth-inning single won the first Hawaii game, leads the team with 44 RBIs.

HAWAII Coach: Les Murakami (16th year, 565-236-2)

Record: 15-9 WAC, 36-20 overall

Finish: Western Division runner-up

National ranking: 16th

Outlook: The Rainbows still may be smarting from last weekend. Hawaii won only two of four games from last-place Utah before coming to San Diego last week. The Rainbows also could be tired, having flown to Honolulu from San Diego Monday afternoon. They came back Wednesday and were scheduled to work out at Smith Field from 9 p.m. to 11. Third baseman Markus Owens (.343) and catcher Phil Williams (.340) are the top hitters. Center fielder Dan Nyssen leads the team with seven home runs and 42 RBIs. Murakami hinted last week that he may move Nyssen to right field for the tournament. Paul List and Mark McWherter, right fielders in last weekend’s series, played poorly while receiving verbal abuse from the fans on Raggers’ Rail.

NEW MEXICO Coach: Vince Cappelli (ninth season, 322-251-5)

Record: 16-8 WAC, 26-19-1 overall

Finish: Eastern Division runner-up

National ranking: None

Outlook: Cappelli put together a playoff team built on power and hitting. Pitching, however, was lacking. New Mexico qualified for the tournament despite an 8.43 team earned-run average. Chris Cerny, a left-hander with a 5-3 record, led the staff with a 4.91 ERA. Steve Sparks (5-3, 7.69) and George Phillips (5-3, 9.99) were the other starters. New Mexico batted .364 as a team (second in the country) and hit .412 in the conference. Shortstop Glen Russell led the team in hitting with a .412 average. He had 10 home runs and 56 RBIs. The Lobos set WAC records for most runs (280), hits (342), RBIs (257) and total bases (580). A 20-17 loss at Wyoming two weeks ago cost New Mexico the division title.

WYOMING Coach: Bill Kinneberg (first season, 28-17)

Record: 16-7 WAC, 28-17 overall

Finish: First in Eastern Division

National Ranking: None

Outlook: Wyoming clinched the Eastern Division title on the final day of the regular season, beating Air Force, 19-18, with a run in the ninth inning. Mark Mulvaney (.431 average, 6 homers, 51 RBIs) and Craig Maki from Monte Vista High (team-leading 11 homers and 56 RBIs) are the top hitters. Wyoming hit .342 as a team. The Cowboys won 14 of their last 15 games to overtake New Mexico. Pitching is the only question mark. Senior Mike Dunn (6-4, 4.98) leads the staff. Wyoming’s team earned-run average is 7.06.