Trojans, Ranked No. 1, Are Ready to Spring Into Action : College baseball: USC fields its strongest team in years, but expects a stern challenge in attempt to earn a trip to Omaha.

The last time USC sat atop the college baseball rankings was 1978, when the Trojans defeated Arizona State in Omaha to win the College World Series and their 11th national championship.

USC has not been back to Omaha since, but with a roster almost entirely intact from last season, the Trojans will begin their season Jan. 30 against Cal State Northridge ranked No. 1 by Baseball America magazine.

“We’re flattered and we do like our team,” said Coach Mike Gillespie, beginning his fourth season with the Trojans. “But we’re not taking that No. 1-ranking business too seriously.”

Neither, perhaps, are defending national champion Wichita State and traditional Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division powers Stanford, Arizona State or Arizona.

But for the first time in recent memory, the rest of the Pac-10 will face a USC team with a legitimate shot at winning the conference title.

Senior center fielder John Jackson, junior second baseman Bret Boone and senior pitcher Randy Powers are the leaders of a team that was 41-25, 16-14 in the conference and advanced to the Midwest regional last season.

Jackson, a record-setting wide receiver for USC’s football team, led the Southern Division in batting last season with a .423 average. Boone, who batted .273, is a consensus preseason All-American who will move from shortstop to second base to make way for Billy Morris, a sophomore who batted .401 at Pierce College last season and was selected in the 15th round of the draft by the Atlanta Braves.

Powers compiled a 10-5 record and 3.75 earned-run average in 1989. He leads a veteran pitching staff that also includes junior right-handers Phil Kendall, 9-4 and 3.45, and Jeff Cirillo, 7-6 and 4.85. But the key to the Trojans’ pitching, Gillespie said, will be sophomore left-hander John Cummings, 4-1 and 4.24, who moves into the rotation after having been used primarily in relief last season.

Brett Jenkins, who batted .345 and was a freshman All-American in 1989, will start at third base. Junior Murph Proctor, who hit .309, starts at first base and will also pitch in relief.

Mike Robertson, who batted .329 with nine home runs and 37 runs batted in, and Mark Smith, .338 with a homer and 32 RBIs, join Jackson in the outfield.

Freshman catcher Casey Burrill and Morris are the key newcomers for the Trojans.

“We have high expectations for this team,” Gillespie said. “The players are a year older and should be a little bit better.

“Our biggest concern is the depth at second, third, and short. An injury to any one of those three guys would be crushing.”

A look at other Division I teams in Southern California:

UCLA

1989 Record: 27-32, 10-20 in the Pac-10.

In his 16th season at UCLA, Gary Adams has his best pitching staff since 1979, when future major leaguers Tim Leary, Matt Young and Dave Schmidt played for the Bruins.

The starting rotation features senior right-hander John Sutherland, 6-6 and 4.40, who was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the eighth round of the draft in June, and junior right-handers Tim Lindsay, 0-1 and 4.84, and Mike Fyhrie, 7-5 and 3.72.

Dave Zancanaro, 9-4 and 3.60, one of the top left-handers in the country, anchors the bullpen and also will be the designated hitter. Other relievers include senior right-hander Scott Shanz, 2-12 and 4.83, and sophomore right-hander Adam Schulhofer, 2-2 and 3.00, with four saves.

The Bruin offense is led by all-conference left fielder Robbie Katzaroff, who hit .342 and is a three-year starter. Freshman Shawn Wills, a tailback on the Bruin football team, will start in center field. Another football player, Michael Moore of Beverly Hills High, is contending for a starting position in right. He was the Toronto Blue Jays’ No. 2 draft pick last June.

Sophomore Joel Wolfe, a .320 hitter, has been moved from first to third base.

CAL STATE LONG BEACH

1989: 50-15, 17-4 in the Big West Conference.

The biggest problem Coach Dave Snow faces in his second year with the 49ers is the expectation created by last season’s success.

Snow inherited a team that was 17-45 in 1988 and turned it into a club that won its first 18 games and a share of the Big West title before sweeping through the West II regional at Tucson and advancing to the College World Series.

“Team-wise, we’re very similar to last year--but there’s a little different aura,” said Snow, whose team opens its season Friday at Arizona State. “We’re not the underdogs anymore.”

Long Beach lost several key players, including ace left-hander Kyle Abbott, who was the Angels’ No. 1 draft pick; speedy center fielder Darrell Sherman, and second baseman Chris Gill.

Sophomore right-hander Andrew Croghan, 12-1 and 3.16, anchors a staff that includes senior left-hander Tom Urbani, 9-5 and 3.96, and junior right-hander Greg Hays, 6-2 and 4.97, with 10 saves. Junior right-hander Jimmy Griego--an all-state pick last season at Cerritos College--and freshman right-hander Todd Taylor also are expected to contribute.

Alberto Guerra, a shortstop who was batting .356 through 16 games last season before suffering a broken leg, is back for his senior season. First baseman Don Barbara, .366; outfielder Todd Lloyd, .331, and catcher Perry Sanchez, .316, also return for their final season of eligibility.

Freshman outfielders Cobi Cradle and Lamar Rodgers are being counted on to replace Sherman as offensive catalysts.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

1989: 30-27 overall, 10-11 in the Big West.

Fullerton lost a load of offense when catcher Brent Mayne, first baseman Rex Peters and designated hitter David Staton all signed professional contracts after last season.

Titan Coach Larry Cochell also will be without highly regarded right-hander Mark Beck, who was sidelined last season because of a shoulder injury before signing with the Atlanta Braves.

Junior left-hander Huck Flener, 9-1 and 3.66, is the top starter and junior right-hander Chris Robinson, 6-5 and 2.97, with two saves, the best reliever. Junior right-hander Jack Bailey, a transfer from Rancho Santiago College, is the top newcomer on the staff.

Junior second baseman Mate Borgognio, .359, is joined by several newcomers, including junior catcher Matt Hattabaugh, freshman third baseman Phil Nevin and sophomore middle infielder Steve Sisco.

Infielder Kevin Farlow, a junior transfer from USC, and junior designated hitter Frank Charles, a transfer from Pepperdine, are also expected to help the Titans.

UC SANTA BARBARA

1989: 28-27 overall, 8-13 in the Big West.

Coach Al Ferrer, in his 10th season with the Gauchos, has 17 players back from last season’s team. Strength in numbers, however, won’t help much unless the pitching staff can significantly improve upon last season’s 5.95 ERA.

Senior left-hander Jon Gianulias, 6-2 and 4.53, and senior right-hander Shawn Loucks, 7-7 and 5.58, are the top pitchers. Newcomers include senior right-hander Ron Martinelli and junior right-hander Tim DeGrasse, who transferred from Miami and Los Angeles Valley College, respectively.

The Gauchos’ offense is led by three all-conference players--sophomore third baseman Jeff Antoon, who hit .327 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs; junior outfielder Jerrold Rountree, .279 and 59 stolen bases, and senior utility man Frank Appice, .271.

UC IRVINE

1989: 20-35-1, 6-15 in the Big West.

Senior right-hander Ken Whitworth, 6-7 and 3.54, anchors a pitching staff that Coach Mike Gerakos said is among the deepest he’s had in 10 years with the Anteaters.

The question is whether that’s enough to compete in the Big West with powers such as Fresno State, San Jose State, Nevada Las Vegas and Long Beach.

“Our first five series in the conference last season were against five teams in the top 25,” Gerakos said. “I don’t expect anything different this year.”

Junior shortstop Al Rodriguez, a .343 hitter last year; senior second baseman Chris Gallego, .331, and third baseman Ed Luna, .322, are Irvine’s offensive catalysts.

PEPPERDINE

1989: 41-19-1, 20-4 in the West Coast Conference.

The Waves, under first-year Coach Andy Lopez, won a share of their sixth consecutive conference title and competed in the West I regional at Fresno last season.

With a veteran pitching staff and one of the top recruiting classes in the country, Pepperdine could once again advance to postseason play.

Senior right-handers Britt Craven, 10-3 and 2.89; Sean Casey, 7-2 and 3.14; Randy Hacker, 3-1 and 2.73, and Kipp Landis, 3-0 and 3.35, return from a staff that compiled a 3.55 ERA last season.

Outfielder Jalal Leach, a .327 hitter, is the top offensive player for the Waves.

The freshman class includes first baseman Dan Melendez, outfielder Chris Sheff and right-handed pitcher Derek Wallace--all of whom played for the U.S. team that won the Junior World Championship in August in Canada.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

1989: 39-24, 18-5 in the West Coast.

Loyola finished second in conference play and advanced to the West II regional at Tucson last season under first-year Coach Chris Smith.

The Lions’ chances of returning to the playoffs were bolstered when catcher Miah Bradbury declined an offer from the Philadelphia Phillies and returned for his senior season.

Bradbury, who hit .398, with six homers, 46 RBIs and a school-record 31 doubles, is a preseason All-American. He and sophomore outfielder-first baseman Joe Ciccarella, .316, are Loyola’s biggest offensive threats.

Senior left-hander Steve Surico, 7-5 and 4.65, and junior right-hander Mike McNary, 3-3 and 5.49, are the Lions’ top starters. Sophomore right-hander Joe Caruso, 4-1 and 3.62, with two saves, and senior right-hander Darryl Scott, 5-8 and 5.48, are the main relievers.

Junior shortstop Darrell Deak, .281, and senior second baseman Kevin VanDeBrake, .265, give Loyola experience up the middle on defense.