Ketchen, Mota Sign Contracts : Titans: Cal State Fullerton loses two players, but shortstop Kevin Farlow says he’ll return.

The Cal State Fullerton baseball team lost two players when juniors Domingo Mota and Doug Ketchen signed professional contracts, but junior shortstop Kevin Farlow, a 15th-round pick of the San Diego Padres, said Monday he will return for his senior season.

“I’m pretty positive I’m staying, unless something out of the ordinary happens--but that’s not going to happen,” said Farlow, who hit .277 with six home runs and 31 runs batted in this past season. “By going back to school for another year, I can work on some things and hopefully improve my stock for next year.”

With first baseman Steve Sisco, third baseman Phil Nevin, catcher Matt Hattabaugh and, possibly, second baseman Mate Borgogno coming back next season, the Titans, who won the Big West Conference and NCAA Central Regional championships, could return their entire infield intact.

Sisco, a sophomore this past season, and Nevin, a freshman, were not eligible for the recent draft. Borgogno was still negotiating with the Giants Monday night but said there’s a good chance he’ll return to Fullerton.

Hattabaugh, who hit .311 with five home runs, including two during the Central Regional, was not drafted, much to his surprise.

“I didn’t understand why I wasn’t drafted,” Hattabaugh said. “I thought I had a pretty good year and I did well in the regionals. I knew I wouldn’t get drafted very high, but I was definitely going to sign no matter where I was picked.”

Hattabaugh, a 6-foot-1, 210-pounder, said his ego was bruised, but it won’t be a letdown coming back to Fullerton.

“I think we’re going to have a great team,” Hattabaugh said. “From what I hear, scouts want me to tone up a bit, lose some weight and gain some more muscles, and another year of college will help me do that. I’m not that heavy. My weight just isn’t proportioned right.”

Frank Charles, a junior designated hitter/catcher who wasn’t drafted, also said he’ll be returning to Fullerton next season. Charles batted cleanup for the Titans for much of the season, hitting .330 with six home runs and 43 RBIs.

Mota, who hit .268 and led the Titans in stolen bases with 18, signed with the Dodgers. The 29th-round pick and son of Dodger coach Manny Mota left Monday for a minicamp in Vero Beach, Fla.

Ketchen, who appeared in 22 games and had a 3-4 record with a 3.55 earned-run average, signed with the Houston Astros. The 19th-round selection could not be reached Monday.

Fullerton left fielder Rich Gonzales, who led the Titans with a .386 average but missed most of the College World Series because of a sprained neck, said he will sign with the St. Louis Cardinals today.

Elsewhere, UC Irvine pitcher Ken Whitworth, a 10th-round pick of the Miami Miracle, an independent team in the Class-A Florida State League, said he will sign a contract with the team later this week. However, the Miracle has optioned Whitworth to the Salt Lake City Trappers, an independent Pioneer League rookie team.

“The Miracle has already started its season and has its roster in place,” said Whitworth, who was accepted to UCLA’s dental school. “I’ll have a better chance to show my talents at Salt Lake City because I’ll be able to play a lot. It doesn’t do any good to be in high A ball if you’re sitting on the bench.”

Denny Berni, who his .392 with 10 home runs and 56 RBIs for Southern California College, has signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. Berni, who played at Orange Coast College, was an all-District 3 selection for the past two seasons.