‘Honky Tonk Man’ Humming as Loyola 9 Romps Over USF

Mike Testa earned the nickname “Honky Tonk Man” by doing Elvis Presley impersonations on the Loyola Marymount bench. He likes to take Coach Dave Snow’s fungo bat down into the dugout and turn it into an air guitar.

Saturday afternoon, the seldom-used utility infielder showed he wasn’t any ordinary banjo hitter. In the second game of Loyola’s doubleheader with the University of San Francisco, Testa smashed an off-speed pitch from left-hander Derek Dowd high over the left-center field fence for a grand slam.

It was only the seventh at-bat of the sophomore’s college career.

Testa’s blast punctuated a long afternoon for San Francisco’s shell-shocked pitching corps at Loyola’s Page Stadium. The Lions (23-7, 3-0) won the opener, 12-6, then pounded out 16 hits in the nightcap and ran away with an 18-0 rout.

Loyola’s regulars teed off on San Francisco hurlers Ed Paulus, Marc Pecha, Warren Galletti and Dowd as if they were batting-practice machines.

Even the Lion reserves had a field day. Testa, outfielder Rich Tricarico and third-string catcher Mark Grafitti, who had 26 at-bats between them going into the second game, all chipped in with hits.

Testa’s big blast was especially sweet for Loyola.

Last season, Testa earned a spot on the team as a freshman walk-on out of Crespi High School, but still hasn’t seen much action backing up Loyola media guide cover boys shortstop Bobby DeJardin and second baseman Carl Fraticelli.

But Testa’s bench antics and work ethic have made the 5-foot-7 infielder one of Loyola’s most popular players. He was mobbed by the entire team when he spiked home plate after his grand-slam trot.

“You saw everyone go nuts,” Snow said. “He’s a hard-working kid and he’s one of the most inspirational guys around. He likes to keep everyone loose.”

Snow said even he was surprised when Testa, who is used primarily as a defensive replacement, turned loose on Dowd’s change-up and launched it over the boards.

“I’ve never even seen him hit a ball like that in batting practice,” Snow joked.

It was no joke for San Francisco. The two losses set Loyola up for what could be a rare happening in the West Coast Athletic Assn. this year--a four-game weekend sweep.

The Lions would pull out the broom if they can down the Dons (9-14, 0-3) today at 1 p.m.

At any rate, Snow is pleased his team is starting to regain the momentum it lost last weekend against the University of Portland and Cal State Fullerton.

The Lions proved their hitting slump was definitely over in the third inning of the opener when they roughed up Dons’ left-hander Greg Weiser for five runs.

The runs came on a pair of singles by Kirk Mears and DeJardin and a towering ground-rule double by Brian Turang.

Third baseman Donny Sparks followed with his third home run of the year, a three-run shot to straight-away center field.

In second inning of the second game, the Lions sent 14 men to the plate and scored nine runs off Paulus and Pecha on seven singles and five walks. In that inning, the first two outs the Lions made were on base-running blunders.

Meanwhile, Loyola starter Scott Neill settled into a groove and finished with a workmanlike, five-hit shutout.

Sparks had a fine day, finishing 5 for 9 with six RBI. DeJardin, Turang and Fraticelli all had three hits apiece on the afternoon.

Testa’s first career grand slam isn’t likely to make the Honky Tonk Man start swinging for the fence. He likes his banjo.

“I like that nickname,” Testa said.