USD Backcourt Swings Into Spring

Angie Straub and Julie Doria come didn’t come to the University of San Diego as a package deal. It just seems that way. Each came to play two sports for the Toreras, and they do it side by side.

Straub, a 5-foot-5 sophomore, and Doria, a 5-7 junior, both started at guard USD’s women’s basketball team during the 1990-91 season. Now they man the left side of the infield for the Toreras’ softball team.

Perhaps their lockers are side by side to make this quick transition from high tops to cleats, from hardwood floor to soft-dirt infield. But if they aren’t, it’s no big deal. Straub and Doria have been jumping out of one uniform and into another for several years. Even at Division I USD, it’s a breeze.

“It’s like riding a bike,” said shortstop Doria, who played three sports at San Pasqual High.

“My arm feels good,” said third baseman Straub. “We didn’t even practice before the first game.”

When the Toreras swept a doubleheader against Regis March 5, Straub made her 1991 debut by going 4 for 7 at the plate and stealing three bases, including home. Doria also got a hit, an RBI and stole a couple of bases. All in a day’s work for these two.

Straub, who played at Nevada Union High in the Mother Lode town of Grass Valley, has been a basketball/softball player since she was 11. Doria has played both sports since eighth grade.

Softball is not highly competitve at USD. There are no scholarships. That makes it easier for Straub and Doria to balance the two sports with their studies. Softball Coach Larry Caudillo considers it a blessing that they decided to play softball, considering they came to USD on basketball scholarships. Since Doria and Straub joined the team, the Toreras (5-5) are 4-0.

“They have a great work ethic and that has a snowball effect on the rest of the people,” Caudillo said. “It seemed like the first four games the (other) gals were holding back, waiting for those two to show up.”

One can understand why. This is a sport so dominated by pitching that a .300 batting average is nearly the equivalent of .400 in baseball. Doria hit .386 last year. Straub, the leadoff hitter, batted .349 with a team-leading four home runs.

Straub also made significant contributions to the Toreras’ 14-13 basketball season. She started all 27 games and led the team in minutes (803), assists (99) and steals (43). She averaged 9.4 points a game, third highest on the team behind All-West Coast Conference players Chris Enger and Christi English.

After becoming a starter at midseason, Doria helped USD win nine consecutive games and finished second in assists (71) to Straub.

Doria, an education major, said she’s having her best semester academically. Straub is also on pace to begin upper-division accounting studies next fall. When academic conflicts occur, Caudillo dismisses them from practices.

“It’s nice to get outside in the sun and play,” Doria said. “It’s not stressful. After basketball, it’s pretty relaxing.”

“I think you can do anything if you just arrange your time right,” said Straub, who added that she’s sacrificed only one aspect of her college life: sleep.

Rebel without a chance: Chris Jeter had high expectations for himself when he left Morse High in 1986 with a basketball scholarship to Nevada Las Vegas. He figured he’d get a lot of playing time.

That never happened. Jeter has seen most of the highlights from the bench. He has played in only 58 of the Rebels’ 141 games in four seasons and 21 minutes over the last 20 games.

“I do get frustrated at times,” Jeter said. “I know that I can play. But I can understand who’s ahead of me: Stacey Augmon. Somebody has to sit on the bench. That’s the bottom line. I guess I’m just that somebody.

“It hurts a lot to know that you can play and (you) sit on the bench a lot. But what the heck. As long as we win, I get an extra ring and I’m not worried about it.”

Yet, being on a team that is 30-0 and has won 41 games in a row hasn’t been a complete waste.

“It’s been fun,” Jeter said. “I love the guys. This is an unselfish team. Some teams have a lot of talent, but can’t get the chemistry together. Here, there’s not one selfish player on the team.”

Jeter’s only start came Feb. 23. That was when Rebel Coach Jerry Tarkanian sent out all six seniors for the tipoff of the team’s final home game. The antics drew a technical foul and Jeter was the player summoned back to the bench.

Jeter’s modest playing time has produced modest statistics. He is averaging 0.8 points per game this season, 1.2 for his career. The 6-foot-8 1/2 forward’s career high was six points against UC Irvine Jan. 18, 1990.

The criminal justice major is scheduled to graduate May 18.

Improbable: UC San Diego’s baseball team has the second-worse record in town. The Tritons entered the week 5-10. They’re inexperienced and they’ve been hit by a rash of injuries.

However, you could fool the city’s Division I teams.

UCSD has already defeated San Diego State (12-6) and USD (11-11). In each game, they did what it took to win. Against SDSU, the Tritons scored in the last inning to beat the Aztecs for just the second time in 19 games, 2-1. Last week against USD, the Tritons outhit the Toreros, 16-15, en route to 10-9 triumph.

Keeping things low key, UCSD Coach Lyle Yates said, “Any time we’re able to beat them, you have to consider it one of your special victories of the year.”