Baseball / Gary Klein : Stanford Travels Light to 2nd NCAA Title

Jeff Light would have considered himself fortunate if he had simply earned a uniform as a freshman this past season at Stanford. Instead, the 1987 Montclair Prep graduate earned a spot on the traveling squad that journeyed to Omaha, Neb., and won its second consecutive NCAA title.

“It was an incredible year,” Light said. “I didn’t think we would go quite as far.”

Light made the transition from first to third base where he backed up Ed Sprague, a member of the 1988 Olympic team who was the Toronto Blue Jays’ No. 1 selection in the draft. Light batted seven times this season and had one hit.

“I was introduced to a lot of new hitting techniques and learned a lot,” said Light, who is playing for the San Fernando Valley Dodgers. “Staying up in school got really hard when we started traveling. I’m used to getting A’s and Bs but I’m probably getting a lot of Cs. I really want to turn that around next year.”

Stanford and Valley Dodger teammate Glenn Stevenson is also looking to turn things around next season.

Stevenson, who will be a senior, caught glimpses of Stanford’s drive for the College World Series title a few weeks ago on a miniature television he had in the Dodgers’ dugout during a series in La Jolla.

It was a bit of a bittersweet feeling for the former Chatsworth High shortstop, who was left off the Cardinal traveling team for the second year in a row.

“It was in the same situation as last year,” Stevenson said. “It’s definitely no fun.”

Stevenson, an economics major, played in three games this season and was hitless in four at bats.

“There’s a lot of talent and I kind of got lost in the shuffle,” Stevenson said. “I’ve kind of felt that I should be the No. 2 shortstop up there, but their ideas are different.”

Stevenson is hoping a strong summer with the Dodgers will help him gain momentum when he returns to Palo Alto in the fall.

“It’s been a good experience in terms of getting a real good education and meeting some great people,” Stevenson said of Stanford. “It hasn’t been all bad, even though the baseball could have been better.”

Nearing a decision: Bob Hiegert, athletic director at Cal State Northridge, said the school expects to name a new baseball coach by the middle of next week.

Hiegert was part of a selection committee that interviewed three candidates this week: former Cal State Fullerton assistant Bill Hughes, who works for the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau; former Pepperdine assistant Jim Gattis and Illinois assistant Bill Kernen.

“We’re pretty close to a decision,” Hiegert said. “We have to make sure its acceptable to the dean and vice president.”

Staying put: Greg Fowble, who was drafted for the second time in three years by the Cleveland Indians, said he will return to the University of Arizona for his junior season.

Fowble, 21, was eligible for this year’s draft as a sophomore because of his age.

“I was surprised to get a call from them,” said Fowble, who is playing in Alaska for the Kenai Peninsula Oilers. “They mentioned that they drafted me after the 50th round. The only thing that would have got me to sign would have been a decent amount of money and they mentioned that they didn’t have any left.”

Fowble, a 5-foot, 11-inch, 160-pound second baseman, batted .320 this past season with one home run, 37 runs batted in and 14 steals.

Fowble denied rumors that he was planning to transfer because he was playing second base instead of shortstop, which he played at Granada Hills High.

“I really don’t see me getting transferred,” he said. “I hope to get drafted next year because I definitely have plans to sign then.”

Stepping out: Due to a number of forfeits by opposing teams, the San Fernando Valley Dodgers have notified the National Baseball Congress that the team will end its affiliation with the Golden State League next summer.

“We want a league that is a showcase for the top level of collegiate baseball,” said Dodger General Manager Dave Desmond. “I’m sure we have made no friends with this decision and we’ve probably lost some.”

The Dodgers (13-4) play host to the Pacific Coast Earthquake in a doubleheader today at noon at Cal State Northridge. The Dodgers play host to the Brea Brewers in a noon doubleheader on Sunday.

Korea bound: Ed Zosky of Fresno State, who played shortstop for the San Fernando Valley Dodgers last season, was recently named to the Olympic team.