UC Riverside Could Be Tough Again

With only two position players and one starting pitcher returning, UC Riverside still won a share of its second consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Assn. baseball title and finished third in the NCAA Division II World Series last season.

But it will hardly be a surprise if the Highlanders win another conference title this year.

The Highlanders, who were 38-25-1 overall and finished in a three-way tie for the CCAA title with Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, appear to have as much talent as any College Division team in Southern California.

Ron Cody, Daron Kirkreit, Bill Jordan and Jon Norris return to the pitching staff. The Highlanders also should be strong defensively with the return of six of eight position players.

Here is a look at the rest of the conference teams:

There is a changing of the guard at Cal Poly Pomona, where longtime Coach John Scolinos has retired after guiding the Broncos to a 27-26 record and a share of the CCAA title last season. Replacing Scolinos is longtime assistant Chuck Belk. The Broncos should have a good pitching staff, led by All-CCAA selection Dan Mead, and a solid offense behind catcher Chris Hunt and outfielder Scott Daniels.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo has won or shared the CCAA title two of the last three years, and the Mustangs have the personnel to contend again after reaching the Division II playoffs, finishing 27-23 and tying for the CCAA title last season.

Cal State Dominguez Hills has one of the top pitching staffs in the conference with the return of starters Mark Tranberg, 11-3 last season, and Armando Plascencia. But the success of the Toros, 27-23 last season, might depend on the development of their offense. The top returning hitter is outfielder John Otte.

It is a new era at Cal State San Bernardino, where the Coyotes have stepped up to the CCAA after going 28-13 last season and reaching the Division III World Series for the second consecutive season. They also have a new coach, Don Parnell, and several new players. The top holdovers include pitcher Rene Aguilar and outfielder Steve Stanfield.

After going 21-34 and finishing fifth in the conference last season, Cal State Los Angeles is faced with the prospect of playing 18 of its first 20 games on the road. The Golden Eagles figure to be led by pitchers Eddie Juarez and Shane Borowski. Their offensive leaders include shortstop Randy Solar and first baseman Scott Thielman.

Year in and year out, Azusa Pacific produces one of the top teams in NAIA District 3.

The Cougars, who finished 29-11 and won the district title last season, might have the best pitching in the district with the return of Todd Long, Ralph Montenegro and Chris Matkin, and the addition of transfer Pablo Paloni.

With only two starters missing from a team that went 25-22 and reached the district final, The Master’s should be among the teams to beat in the district once again. The Mustangs will rely on the offense of infielders Russ Henzie, E.J. Pape and Russ Henzie and catcher Dan O’Sullivan, along with the pitching of Chris Beck and Mike Smith.

Christ College Irvine made giant strides last season in going 28-15-1 and reaching the district playoffs. The Eagles should continue their improvement with the return of pitcher Mike Adams, who was 12-3 and batted .461 last season.

Behind a strong pitching staff, Southern California College reached the district playoffs last year and the Vanguards have the pitching to be a factor again. The Vanguards, 28-22 last season, have pitcher David Black, who had a 2.12 earned-run average last season.

After slipping to 15-24 last season, Westmont might be a year away from contending for the district title. The Warriors have only one senior starter, outfielder Jeff Kliewer, and will count heavily on underclassmen such as pitcher Brent Overfelt, outfielder Mike Foster and freshman infielders Paul Pierson and Dan Deeble.

Despite a new coach, Jerry Huson, and new uniforms, Biola still might have difficulty improving upon its 10-24 mark of last season. The Eagles will depend on pitcher Eric Pollom, infielder Rich Warnol and catcher Jay Acocks.

It is no wonder Coach Rich Hill is looking forward to Cal Lutheran’s first year in the NCAA Division III and SCIAC. The Kingsmen, ranked No. 7 in Division III in a preseason poll, have a solid nucleus returning from last year’s team that had a school-best 32-8 record and has added five Division I transfers.

Among the team’s top position players should be catcher Eddie Lample, infielder Jim Fifer and outfielders Bob Farber, Darrell McMillin and Eric Johnson--a transfer from Cal State Northridge. The pitching staff is headed by returnees Steve Dempsey and Tim Wimbish and newcomer Mike Winslow.

If any team has the ability to challenge the Kingsmen for the title, it could be defending SCIAC champion Redlands. The Bulldogs, who were 20-23 and reached the Division III playoffs last season, have a top all-around performer in SCIAC player of the year Marc DiCarlo at first base and pitcher. Another pitching leader is Vennie Henderson, and the offense should be bolstered by the return of All-SCIAC choices Mike Kon at catcher and Jeff Sofro at third base.

Claremont-Mudd has seven returning starters from a team that went 22-18 and tied with La Verne for second in the conference last year.

With the return of three top pitchers and solid hitting, La Verne also has the talent to rank among the conference leaders.

It has the look of a rebuilding year for Occidental, which lost most of its top players from a squad that went 14-19 and finished fifth in the SCIAC last season.

There is an accent on youth at Whittier, where the Poets went 12-26 overall and finished fourth in the SCIAC last season. They have only two seniors on a 26-man roster.

It was a struggle last season for Pomona-Pitzer, which finished 12-26 and sixth in the SCIAC.

Caltech finished 3-27-1, including 0-18 in the SCIAC last season, and the prospects for the Beavers do not appear much better this season.