COLLEGE WORLD SERIES : Titans Keep an Ace in the Hole : Johnson Comes Out of Bullpen to Pick Up Victories

As Cal State Fullerton takes the field in the College World Series today, the Titans have at least one great comfort.

Paul Johnson is in the bullpen.

He has been in the bullpen for much of the season, of course, but it was his performance at the NCAA South Regional last weekend that has given him grand status.

Johnson, a middle reliever, came on in the fifth inning of Fullerton’s game against Mississippi State Sunday. He went the rest of the way for the victory in a 12-inning game.

The next day, when Fullerton got in trouble early, the Titans went to Johnson in the fifth again. With a little help from Mike Ross’ three-run homer in the ninth, he earned another victory and a trip to the College World Series, which began Friday and continues today, when Fullerton faces Miami in the opening game for both teams.

All of which brings us to the crucial questions.

Does Johnson still have an arm? And has he ever been so tired?

The arm, he says, is fine, though he took three days off before throwing again Friday.

But has he ever been more tired?

“I’d have to say no.”

There are worse things than being tired. After all, what could compare to two victories in two days?

Well, there was the time he won two games against Arizona last year in one day .

But, Johnson says, he only had to pitch about three innings altogether for those victories.

“These two,” he says, “I kind of earned.”

Kind of.

Johnson began the year as a starter, but by midseason, his role had changed.

Fullerton was going with Mark Beck, Danny DeVille and Longo Garcia, who will start today’s game.

So Johnson became a middle reliever. Or, more aptly after last weekend, a very long reliever.

He attributes his recent success to avoiding that old pitcher’s malady--pitching “too fine.” By which he means, essentially, that he tried too hard for the perfect pitch and ended up paying for it.

Titan Coach Larry Cochell sees the difference in simpler terms: “He’s keeping the ball down. He’s in a groove right now, and when he keeps the ball down, he’s been effective.”

As well as Johnson has pitched lately, Fullerton would just as soon see him keep his seat in the bullpen. A few complete games, such as Beck and Garcia pitched at the regional, would please Cochell and Johnson.

“They give us a couple of complete games, that would be great,” Johnson said. “But I’m ready to get out there. Being a relief pitcher, you have to always be ready. You never can tell.”

Rex Peters, Fullerton’s starting right fielder, has been indefinitely suspended from the team for disciplinary reasons, the school said Friday. Cochell would not elaborate. Peters, who was hitting .330 and batting second in the order, did not make the trip. Jim Osborn likely will replace Peters in right, or center fielder Jason Rolish will move to right and Bobby Jones will play center.

Mike Ross, Fullerton’s second baseman, was taken by St. Louis in the fourth round of baseball’s amateur draft earlier this week.