CS Northridge Presses Ahead Sans Sanchez : College baseball: Kernen believes putting resignation of assistant and longtime friend behind him will benefit team.

One week after the controversial resignation of Cal State Northridge baseball assistant Stan Sanchez, the Matadors are learning to deal with the prospect of finishing the season with only two coaches, Bill Kernen, the head coach, and volunteer assistant P.C. Shaw.

Kernen felt betrayed when Sanchez, his friend of 30 years, split his loyalties between Northridge (19-7) and the Southern Colorado program that he will revive, beginning in June.

“I was devastated personally,” Kernen said. “I still can’t believe it happened. I guess I’m naive. You help someone when they’re unemployed, you raise money for their salary, you give him four months off to look for a job and then he gets a job and stabs you in the back. It’s tough to take.”

Sanchez believes he was in a difficult situation.

“I’m sorry he feels that way,” Sanchez said. “All I know is that when I was on the field I did my job. I don’t believe I went behind his back.”

Kernen realizes that the sooner his anger and disappointment fades, the sooner his players will get back to an even keel. After losing to Cal State Sacramento on Saturday and being rained out Friday and Sunday, Northridge swept a doubleheader from the Hornets on Monday.

“I think we were actually fortunate to be rained out a couple days,” Kernen said. “The more days we were rained out, the more we could get back to reality. We played pretty well Monday. I don’t know if we would have earlier.”

Kernen said he encouraged his players, particularly third baseman Andy Small, who played for Sanchez at San Bernardino Valley College, to deal with Sanchez’s departure on their own terms.

“They should have an opinion of Coach Sanchez based on their own experience with him, not based on my experience with him,” Kernen said.

Sanchez’s former responsibilities are being divided among Kernen, Shaw and players, particularly pitchers. Kernen, a former minor league pitcher who has not thrown batting practice in several seasons, will begin to do so.

Shaw, 24, has moved from first base coach to third base coach, replacing Sanchez, and is responsible for giving signs. Kernen will relay information to Shaw from the bench.

Injured pitcher Steven Morales, who has served as a quasi-assistant all season, is the first base coach.

Despite being shorthanded, Kernen will continue to leave practice occasionally to scout.

A search will begin immediately for Sanchez’s replacement, although the position will not be filled until the season ends.

Since Sanchez’s resignation, Kernen said he had learned that Sanchez was progressively relinquishing responsibilities, including delegating travel arrangements to sports information director Deana Allington.

Sanchez did not have recruiting duties, yet he was “suddenly” interested in scouting high school and junior college games, according to Kernen.

Kernen was surprised to see Sanchez at a high school game in San Diego the weekend of March 20 when the Matadors were playing against San Diego State. He was further angered when he realized that Sanchez did not stay at the team hotel in San Diego.