COLLEGE BASEBALL PREVIEW : Precedent Not Plentiful for Repeat Title for Pepperdine

Texas, USC and Stanford are the only schools that have won consecutive NCAA Division I baseball championships, a fact not lost on Pepperdine pitcher Steve Duda.

Duda, a senior right-hander, is the most experienced member of a staff that will be trying to help Pepperdine duplicate last season’s College World Series title, won with a 3-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.

Duda is well aware that history is working against the Waves.

“We have some players back from last season, but this really is a new team,” he said. “For us to get back to Omaha, we’re going to have to combine the experience of our older players with the enthusiasm of the younger guys.

“And even if we do that, it’s going to be tough. It takes a lot of luck to win it all.”

Pepperdine got off to a good start last weekend with a season-opening 4-2 victory over Cal Poly Pomona. The Waves left Thursday for Kissimmee, Fla., where they will play Auburn and Central Florida today in the first round of the four-team Olive Garden tournament.

Pepperdine is one of four Southland teams ranked among the nation’s top 25 in Baseball America’s preseason poll. The Waves, who finished 48-11-1 last season, are ranked 14th. USC is ranked third, Fullerton eighth and UCLA 17th.

“Nothing’s new,” Pepperdine Coach Andy Lopez said. “It was tough to beat all those teams back in Omaha, but day in and day out, the competition right here in Southern California is still the best in the country.”

Eight Pepperdine players, including five pitchers, signed professional contracts after last season.

Outfielder Keven Dell’Amico, who batted .336, is the top returning hitter for the Waves. Catcher Scott Vollmer, outfielder Matt McElreath and infielders Mark Wasikowski and Eric Ekdahl are returning starters. Newcomers include outfielders Erik Martinez and Ryan Radmanovich, both junior college transfers.

Duda was 9-1 with a 1.92 earned-run average last season. At 32-6 for his career, he is one victory shy of tying the Pepperdine record held by Mike Fetters. Joining Duda in the rotation will be freshman Jason LeBlanc from Whittier La Serna High, and freshman left-hander Greg Gregory, who led Long Beach Millikan to consecutive Southern Section titles.

Junior Adam Housley and senior Chad Nichols, who transferred to Pepperdine from Loyola Marymount, will be the Waves’ top relievers.

“We have a group of position players that were in the College World Series, so they’re not in awe of anything,” said Lopez, who begins his fifth season with the Waves. “The question mark is going to be our pitching. You have Steve Duda, and after that you have a lot of guys with with limited or no college experience.”

Here is a team-by-team look at the other Southland Division I teams:

USC

The Trojans finished 28-26 overall and 13-17 in the Pacific 10 Southern Division last season, missing the playoffs for the first time in five years.

But they were ranked third before their 7-3 victory in Tuesday’s opener against Loyola.

“I think that’s way too ambitious and optimistic at this point,” Trojan Coach Mike Gillespie said.

USC could live up to its billing, though, with injury-free seasons from junior right-hander Mike Collett, who missed last season because of arm surgery; and junior left-hander Kent Donnelly, who is also coming back from arm problems.

Senior right-hander Dan Hubbs and junior left-hander German Casillas, a transfer from Harbor College, also will play important roles on the pitching staff.

Sophomore outfielder Shon Milani, who batted .314 last season, is the top returning hitter. Sophomore outfielder J.T. Roberge (.302), sophomore third baseman Aaron Boone (.272) and senior catcher Casey Burrill (.260) are other experienced players returning.

Gabe Alvarez, a freshman from La Puente Bishop Amat, will start at shortstop and is regarded as one of the premiere first-year players in college baseball.

UCLA

The Bruins lost outfielder Michael Moore and pitcher Pete Janicki, who were selected in the first round of the pro draft after helping UCLA to the championship game of the Mideast Regional and a 37-26 record.

Junior first baseman Ryan McGuire hit .316 with 14 home runs and 61 runs batted in last season and earned a tryout for the U.S. Olympic team.

Other important returning players for the Bruins include junior Adam Melhuse, who will move from shortstop to third base; designated hitter Mike Mitchell, who batted a team-high .351 and hit 12 homers in 154 at-bats last season, and junior outfielder David Roberts, who had 36 steals in 1992.

Jon Van Zandt, a senior right-hander, transferred when UC Irvine dropped its program after last season. He begins the season as UCLA’s top starter. Junior left-hander Tim Kubinski and junior right-hander Bobby Kazmirski, a transfer from Fresno State, are the other starters. Senior right-hander Gabe Sollecito is the closer after recording a school-record 12 saves last season.

UCLA does not waste any time getting into the heart of its nonconference schedule. The Bruins will open on Tuesday at Pepperdine, then play the next day at Fullerton.

CS FULLERTON

The Titans open their season today with a three-game series against Stanford, followed by a midweek game against UCLA and three-game series at Texas.

“We have a lot of new players and players changing positions,” Coach Augie Garrido said. “That’s a seven-game start that should help them say ‘howdy’ to college baseball.”

Fullerton lost third baseman Phil Nevin, who was the No. 1 pick in the draft, as well as second baseman Steve Sisco and pitchers Dan Naulty and James Popoff from a team that finished 46-17 and was national runner-up to Pepperdine.

Senior Jeremy Carr (.359) moves from the outfield to second base, sophomore Dante Powell (.307) moves from left field to center and Tony Banks (.300, nine homers) will be an everyday outfielder for the Titans, who are favored to win the Big West Conference and challenge for another trip to Omaha.

Sophomore right-hander Mike Parisi, who was 5-1 with a 3.09 earned-run average last season, is the top returning pitcher for a staff that also includes sophomore Derek Fahs, freshman Jon Ward and junior Dan Ricabal, a transfer from Cerritos College.

CS LONG BEACH

The 49ers, who open their season today against California at refurbished Blair Field, are in transition after finishing 37-20-1 and advancing to the Central Regional last season.

Eleven players from last year’s team signed pro contracts, leaving Coach Dave Snow with only two who have extensive experience. Senior catcher Brian Whatley batted .353 in 41 games, and senior outfielder Cobi Cradle is an outstanding defensive player.

Sophomore left-hander Mike Hernandez (5-2, 5.13) is the top returning pitcher. Newcomers include junior right-handers Mike Fontana and Dave Goldstein, both transfers from Rancho Santiago College; and sophomore right-hander Dan Choi and junior left-hander Julio Colon, both from Los Angeles City College.

Junior shortstop Sean Davisson, first baseman Brian Smith and outfielders Kevin Curtis and John Swanson are also transfers who will move into the starting lineup. Jeff Liefer, a freshman from Upland, will start at third base.

UC SANTA BARBARA

The Gauchos lost their three most productive offensive players from a team that finished 30-23-1 overall and 9-14 in the Big West.

But Jared Janke, a freshman from Diamond Bar, showed signs of filling the void by hitting four home runs in two games against Loyola last weekend.

Senior infielder Rich Haar (.300) and designated hitter Chris Johnson (11 homers) are the top returning hitters. Right-handers Steve Lane and Pat Bennett are the most experienced pitchers.

Janke is among a group of new players that includes freshman outfielder Wynter Phoenix and freshman infielder Zach Elliott.

CS NORTHRIDGE

After two seasons as a Division I independent, the Matadors begin their first season as members of the Western Athletic Conference.

Northridge, which opens its season Tuesday against Santa Barbara, will compete in the WAC Western Division with Fresno State, CS Sacramento, San Diego State and Hawaii.

Northridge lost its top three pitchers from a team that advanced to the Midwest Regional and finished 38-16-1 last season.

Senior right-hander Steven Morales is back after compiling a 4-1 record and 2.43 ERA in 63 innings before he injured his arm. Newcomers include junior college transfers Keven Kempton and Marco Contreras.

The Matadors will be led by a nucleus of senior position players, among them shortstop Andy Hodgins (.304), catcher Mike Sims (.296) and outfielder Greg Shepard (seven homers).

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

The Lions, under second-year Coach Jody Robinson, open the season with seven consecutive road games as they attempt to improve upon last season’s 16-36 finish.

Junior first baseman Anthony Napolitano (.343), sophomore right fielder Mike Seal (.311) and senior outfielder Darren Sugiyama (.282) are the most experienced players.

The pitching staff is led by 6-foot-6 right-hander Shane Bowers and includes junior transfer John Straits and freshman Andy Collett, both right-handers.

CHAPMAN

The Panthers are playing their second--and final--season as a Division I independent before moving to Division III status next year.

First-year Coach Gary Henderson has several players back from a team that finished 29-24.

Senior outfielder Buster Nietzke batted .333 and finished with a 16-game hitting streak. Senior Trevor Rush (.290) moves from third base to shortstop, and sophomore Chris Briones will catch.

Senior right-hander James Thomas is the No. 1 starter and senior right-hander Steve Aviles is the top reliever.