College Notebook : Northridge Slugger Gilmore Aiming for CCAA Triple-Double

It took more than a quarter-century before the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. could boast a triple crown winner--a baseball player who led the conference in batting average, home runs and runs batted in. Now it might happen two years in a row.

If he maintains his current pace, Lenn Gilmore of Cal State Northridge may duplicate the feat accomplished last season by Darren Nelson of Chapman College. Nelson, an outfielder, batted .388 and had 21 home runs and 77 RBIs.

Gilmore, a senior outfielder, leads the conference with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs. He began the week third in batting at .374, a shade behind teammate John Bonilla (.375) and conference-leader Ruben Jaurequi (.398) of Cal State Dominguez Hills.

“I’m aware of the numbers and where I’m at,” said Gilmore, who also leads the conference in runs scored with 40. “One of my goals this year was to win the triple crown and I think I can do it.”

Northridge plays a doubleheader today at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

People’s choice: After Cal Poly Pomona defeated Northridge, 9-1, on Tuesday, Pomona pitcher Wayne Koklys said the Broncos were trying to make the run for the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. title a two-team race.

With the win, Pomona (11-6) pulled to within 1 1/2 games of conference-leading Riverside (13-5).

If the championship does come down to a two-team battle, Northridge pitcher Fili Martinez gives Pomona the edge.

“Pomona is probably the best team we’ve faced in the conference,” said Martinez, who shut out Riverside and lost to Pomona. “They’re definitely better than Riverside in the way they execute.”

Popular people: Not only did the CSUN men’s volleyball team enjoy one of its most successful seasons on the court, but also at the ticket booth. With approximately 660 in attendance for Wednesday’s season-ending loss to Hawaii, Northridge drew 400 or more fans to six home matches.

“We established ourselves in the league and in the community,” Northridge Coach John Price said.

The Matadors drew a crowd of approximately 1,100 for their Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Assn. match against UCLA, which Northridge lost in five games. Approximately 1,000 saw the Matadors’ first victory in school history over Pepperdine.

Wednesday’s crowd was boosted by numerous high school volleyball players who were admitted free in a one-time promotion. Players from Chatsworth, El Camino Real, Reseda, Granada Hills, Kennedy and many other local high schools attended the WIVA match.

Add volleyball: With the Matadors’ Jeff Campbell not playing because of strained ligaments in his left leg, Northridge’s chances of beating the third-ranked Rainbows were slim. But his absence helped some substitutes boost their chances for more playing time next year.

Kien Do, a seldom-used outside hitter who was injured earlier this season, played in all three games, had 10 kills and a team-high nine digs. John Damitz, a junior outside hitter who transferred from Brigham Young, had six kills and a team-high .333 hitting percentage.

“It would have been nice to have (Do) all year and it’ll be nice to have him next year,” Price said.

Do, Andrew Greskovics and two redshirt freshmen will compete for one of the outside hitting positions next season, Price said.

Last add volleyball: The goal of this year’s team was to make it to the regional playoffs. Although the Matadors didn’t reach that objective, they’ve set even higher goals for next year.

“Our goal is to be one of the top four teams in the nation,” Price said. “If everyone stays healthy, we’ll be tough.”

Average game: Dave Leonhardt’s batting average jumped 21 points after he had four hits in four at-bats for Cal Lutheran on Tuesday in an 18-3 win over Christ College.

Leonhardt, a second baseman, is batting .300 after getting 14 hits in his past 26 at-bats.

Cal Lutheran (18-17, 11-6 in Golden State Athletic Conference play) is tied with Westmont for second place in the conference, a half-game behind Azusa Pacific. The Kingsmen play a doubleheader today at Azusa Pacific.

Tough luck: Big things were expected from pitcher Mike Clark of Pierce this season, and although his record is 2-5, the sophomore right-hander has, for the most part, pitched up to his billing, Coach Bob Lyons said.

“Taking him out of a game is like taking a pit bull away from a piece of meat,” Lyons said. “He doesn’t walk people and he’s always around the plate. He’s a very determined kid.”

Honor roll: Three members of the Cal State Northridge women’s tennis team, which is competing in the Ojai tournament this weekend, were named All-California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

Seniors Missy Conn (15-8) and Kris Anderson (16-9) and sophomore Allison Kincaid (12-13) led Northridge (13-12, 8-4 in conference play) to a third-place finish in the CCAA.

The Lady Matadors will find out Monday if they have qualified for the Division II nationals May 1-7 at Sonoma State.

Tournament time: Cal State Northridge golfers Wayne Tyni, Tony Chieffo, Bill Cullum and Gary Finneran will be among the participants today in the 15th Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Golf Classic at Valencia Country Club.

The tournament, which benefits the hospital’s trauma facility, also includes a golf clinic and fashion show.

No go: Plans in the works for a softball program next season at Mission College have fallen through, said Phil Lozano, the school’s athletic director.

Mission has men’s athletics programs in cross-country, baseball, soccer and golf. Cross-country is the only women’s sport.

“I’d like to develop programs for both men and women, and start one women’s program for every men’s sport,” Lozano said. “But I can’t commit myself to a team if we don’t have any financial backing.”

Lozano said he requested an $8,000 increase in Mission’s athletics budget to start up the softball team next year but said he received no firm commitment for the funding from the Los Angeles Community College District.

Staff writers Gary Klein, Ralph Nichols, Lauren Peterson, Mike Hiserman and Chris J. Parker contributed to this notebook.