U.S. INTERNATIONAL : Kachigian’s Building Job With Gulls: A Rock ‘n’ (Slow) Roll
Sometimes it must seem to George Kachigian that he is more foreman than coach. That hit-and-run was something coined by a fund-raiser. And recruiting has more to do with favors than players.
But in five years with the U.S. International baseball team, including the past three as head coach, Kachigian has found that adminstrative skills are a necessity. Kachigian joined the program when it was merely taking up space and had no place to call home.
That’s also when the coaches and players decided to carve a baseball field in a hillside on the school’s Scripps Ranch campus.
And it appears the Gulls will continue rebuilding on and off the field, with inexperience and a lack of pitching depth. But this is nothing new. When Kachigian describes USIU baseball as being built from the ground up, he isn’t kidding.
“Rocks,” Kachigian said. “You’ve never seen so many rocks in your life. We rented trucks and loaded the rocks by hand. Mesa Community College had an apprentice program for masons, and I got the instructor to make our field a project for the class. They built the dugouts.”
The team primarily used donated supplies. Some of the concrete came from a buddy of Kachigian’s from his 27 years in the Navy. The welding for the backstop and batting cages came from a Navy friend that has a ship repair business. “It’s been that type of effort to get it done,” Kachigian said. “Every year--it’s very slow--we get a few more donations, a few more people helping you out.”
Last year came the batting cages; this year, a press box that Kachigian isn’t ashamed to say is primarily for pro scouts.
“One of the policies we have is to treat the scouts right,” said Kachigian, who was a San Diego-area scout for five years with the Chicago Cubs. “The more kids I can get drafted, the more that will come along.”
And for Kachigian, that is one of the few recruiting tools he has. Another is the schedule. USIU plays 12 of the top 25 teams in the country this season. “I purposely do that,” he said. “We have to play a damn tough schedule and win if we want to get any type of playoff berth.”
Kachigian had virtually no players when he became head coach in 1988. He is switching to a freshman-based program instead of relying on a steady flow of community college players.
Twelve of USIU’s 22 players played high school ball in San Diego, and six of those are underclassmen.
Inexperience and lack of pitching depth will be the challenges USIU (24-35 last season) must overcome. This was evident in the team’s 12-2 loss to Chapman in the season opener at home Tuesday.
The entire infield returns. Beto Rodriguez (Serra High), who hit .312 with four home runs and 35 RBI last season, will again play first. Sophomore Bruce Moutaw (Santana) won the second base job midway through last season. Shortstop Geoff Martinez (Madison) is the top returning hitter (.329) and had eight home runs and 49 RBI last year. Junior Pat Cheek (Mira Mesa), who Kachigian says should be the Gulls’ top hitter, will play third. Kevin Crabtree and Mike Murphy--the only non-San Diegans in the infield--will catch.
The Gulls will start an all-freshman outfield. Darrin Forster (Santana), the nephew of former pro pitcher Terry Forster, will play left. Sean Darrock (Mission Bay), was drafted by the Boston Red Sox but opted to play college ball instead. He will play right and center field along with Travis Hopper, a freshman walk-on from Carson City, Nev.
One pitcher decided not to attend college and another--freshman Travis Arnold of Mira Mesa--is in traction. That leaves five true pitchers and two conversions. The starting three includes two seniors--right-hander Arnold Spiker (Escondido), who transferred from Arizona State, and left-hander Troy Chacon--and junior left-hander Mike Whisonant, who was 6-7 with a 6.27 ERA last year. Sophomore Jeff Matranga (Santana) will be the No. 4 starter and the first man out of the bullpen. Freshman Kyle Sebach (Santana) will also relieve and be the designated hitter.