CS Northridge Ranked 11th in Preseason Baseball Poll

Cal State Northridge is ranked 11th in the nation by Collegiate Baseball in the magazine’s preseason poll of Division I coaches.

The Matadors, 44-18-1 last season--their first against major-college competition--are rated ahead of such perennially powerful programs as Stanford (14th), USC (18th) and Arizona State (21st). Louisiana State, the defending national champion, is ranked 16th.

“That’s a real feather in the program’s hat,” said Stan Sanchez, Northridge’s first-year assistant. “The program is getting respect from people inside the industry, which is the best compliment you can get.”

Wichita State, which lost to Louisiana State in the finals of the College World Series, received the top ranking. The Shockers have four players listed on the Mizuno preseason All-American team, including pitcher Kenny Steenstra (17-0, 2.17 earned-run average) and shortstop Chris Wimmer (.401, 54 stolen bases), both All-Americans last season.

Northridge’s top players are expected to be second baseman Scott Richardson (.335, 20 steals), outfielder Greg Shockey (.366, 59 RBIs), pitcher Ken Kendrena (13-2, 2.75 ERA) and pitcher Steven Morales, a junior transfer from Cypress College.

The Matadors will open the season Jan. 31 at home against Christ College of Irvine.

Collegiate Baseball Magazine’s Fabulous 40

Rk Team (1991 record) Points 1. Wichita State (66-13) 496 2. Florida (51-21) 493 3. Miami (46-17) 490 4. Mississippi St. (42-21) 489 5. CS Fullerton (34-22) 484 6. CS Long Beach (45-22) 481 7. Pepperdine (41-17-1) 477 8. Florida State (57-14) 476 9. Texas (48-18) 472 10. Oklahoma State (47-20) 470 11. CS Northridge (44-18-1) 465 12. Creighton (51-22) 460 13. Arizona (27-32) 458 14. Stanford (39-23) 455 15. Hawaii (51-18) 454 16. Louisiana State (55-18) 450 17. South Alabama (44-17) 446 18. USC (46-17-1) 444 19. Texas A&M; (44-23) 440 20. Notre Dame (45-16) 436

Second 20: Arizona State, California, Southwestern Louisiana, Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina State, Missouri, Ohio State, San Diego State, Indiana State, Tennessee, Brigham Young, Maine, Evansville, Fresno State, Minnesota, Arkansas, Tulane, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma.