Another Boone for the Trojans : Aaron, a Junior Third Baseman, Is Hoping to End USC Career With a Trip to Omaha

It has been 16 years since USC visited Omaha for the College World Series.

These have been years of near-misses and what-might-have-beens for the program that has won a record 11 national baseball titles.

Aaron Boone is very much aware of history.

“It’s kind of been like a ghost,” said Boone, the Trojans’ junior third baseman. “We’ve been close so many times, including last year. I think this team is capable of finally getting there.”

USC (38-18) begins its quest for a World Series berth today when it plays North Carolina Greensboro (37-16) in the NCAA South Regional at Baton Rouge, La. The Trojans are seeded second behind defending national champion Louisiana State in a regional that also includes Southeastern Louisiana, Tulane and Fresno State.

Long Beach State (39-17), seeking its fourth World Series appearance in six seasons under Coach Dave Snow, is seeded second in the Midwest II Regional at Wichita, Kan. The 49ers open play Friday against Washington (42-16) in a regional that also includes top-seeded Georgia Tech, Wichita State, West Coast Conference champion Santa Clara and Connecticut.

Cal State Fullerton (41-13) is seeded second in the Midwest I Regional at Stillwater, Okla., and will open Friday against Northwestern State (44-13). The regional also includes top-seeded Oklahoma State, Texas Christian, Memphis and Illinois State.

Winners of the eight six-team double-elimination regionals will advance to the World Series June 3-11.

Boone, 6 feet 2, 185 pounds, is batting .338 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in. He has stolen 25 bases, a USC single-season record.

Boone would like nothing more than to complete his Trojan career with a trip to Omaha before signing a professional contract after the June 2 draft.

“I’m ready to get going and start playing for real,” Boone said. “It’s time to try and get there and make a life out of it.”

If history and bloodlines are any indication, Boone is in for a successful major league career.

His grandfather, Ray Boone, was a major league infielder for 12 years and has been a longtime scout. His father, Bob Boone, played 19 years in the major leagues and is a coach with the Cincinnati Reds. His brother, Bret Boone, played at USC and became the first third-generation major league player when he broke in with the Seattle Mariners in 1992. He is the Reds’ starting second baseman.

“I still have a long way to go,” Aaron Boone said. “I’m by no means a great player or a finished player.”

Scouts agree. They consider Boone a work in progress.

“When you look at him and grade him out for speed, throwing arm, hitting and hitting for power, he doesn’t rate at the top of the scale in any of the individual categories,” one scout said. “Collectively, though, he does everything way above average--and his makeup and instincts are excellent. There’s no doubt he will play in the major leagues and play there a long time.”

USC Coach Mike Gillespie said: “It’s happened for him like you would want it to happen for everyone--he’s made progress. Improve and get better and better and better. He’s been a perfect example of that.”

As a freshman in 1992, Boone started at third base and batted .272 with no homers and 25 RBIs in 53 games. The Trojans finished 28-26 and missed the playoffs.

“My goal when I came in was to play right away and make an impact,” Boone said. “I think I established myself as an OK player.”

However, last season started badly for Boone. He committed 18 errors in the first 21 games and struggled at the plate.

“It was a nightmare, unbelievable,” Boone said. “I went into the season with high expectations and couldn’t imagine anything like that happening.”

Boone came out of his fielding slump and made only seven errors in the final 43 games. He batted .286 with five homers and 39 RBIs. USC finished 35-29, losing to Texas, 3-2, in the championship game of the Central Regional at Austin, Tex.

“It made me a better player in the long run to have gone through something like that,” said Boone, who has made only eight errors this season. “This year, if I’m not hitting, I know I can go out there and help the team with my glove.”

USC played at Baton Rouge in the 1990 playoffs, winning its first three games before losing twice to LSU.

Boone intends to help the Trojans take the final step to Omaha. They won five of their last six regular-season games, including two of three against Fullerton and a sweep of Grand Canyon.

“It’s all about getting some momentum going and getting hot going into the regionals,” Boone said. “Judging by how we’re playing and our mental state, I think we’re confident and ready to get rolling.”