Chapman Baseball Preview
Coach--Mike Weathers, ninth year.
1991 Records--15-36, 10-20 in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. (sixth).
Top returning regulars--Mike Giuseffi, 1B, Sr., batted .303 with 12 RBIs; Pete Coleman, RHP, Sr., 3.41 ERA and nine complete games.
Top newcomers--Buster Nietzke, OF, Jr., second-team All-Orange Empire Conference for Saddleback; Jason White, OF, Jr., batted .369 for Golden West; Chris Briones, C, Fr., batted .427 with five homers for Brea-Olinda High; Tom Puppe, 1B, Jr. batted .359 for state-champion Cypress; Trevor Rush, SS, Jr., transfer from Cal State Fullerton.
Outlook--The Panthers have left the relative safety of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. and the NCAA Division II and will play this season as a Division I independent. Cal State Northridge made the same jump last season and qualified for the NCAA regionals in its first season. But the Panthers, who finished last in the CCAA last season, might find it difficult to duplicate that feat.
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