COLLEGE BASEBALL / 1995 SOUTHLAND PREVIEW : Several Teams Have Shot at National Title

College baseball in the Southland appeared on the verge of change last summer when several successful local coaches became candidates for jobs outside the state.

Andy Lopez, who guided Pepperdine to the 1992 national championship, was wooed by Florida. Long Beach State’s Dave Snow, who led the 49ers to three World Series appearances in six seasons, was a finalist to succeed Jim Brock at Arizona State. And George Horton, Cal State Fullerton’s talented associate head coach, was the top candidate to take over the program at Washington State.

In the end, Lopez left for Gainesville, but Arizona State did not hire Snow and Horton turned down Washington State.

The region, therefore, figures to make its usual presence felt when NCAA playoff berths are announced in May.

“There’s more good baseball played on a day-to-day basis in Southern California than there is anywhere else in the country,” USC Coach Mike Gillespie said. “As is the case every year, several teams in this area have a legitimate shot at winning the national championship if things fall their way.”

Cal State Northridge will try to rebound after missing the NCAA playoffs for the first time in four seasons in Division I.

Here is a look at the other Division I teams in the Southland:

USC

1994 Record: 41-20

Gillespie, in his ninth season, is trying to guide the Trojans to their first College World Series appearance since 1978.

USC, ranked sixth by Baseball America, features two preseason All-Americans who helped the Trojans advance to the South Regional final last season. Junior shortstop Gabe Alvarez batted .326 with seven homers and 51 runs batted in, and junior outfielder Geoff Jenkins hit .373 with 15 homers and 47 RBIs.

Outfielders Walter Dawkins (.280, 17 homers) and Jacque Jones (.335) are other top returning players, along with sophomore left-hander Randy Flores, who was 11-1 with a 1.66 earned-run average.

Freshman Derek Baker starts at third base and freshman pitcher Seth Etherton will be used in a variety of roles. Pitcher Brian Cooper, a transfer from Citrus College, is considered top prospect.

Gillespie said depth is the Trojans’ strength.

“We’ll have quality guys off the bench both right- and left-handed--that’s a first for us,” Gillespie said. “And our pitching staff is deeper than it’s ever been.”

UCLA

1994 Record: 22-36

The Bruins are coming off their worst season in 13 years, but hope springs in Westwood because of a talented freshman class.

“Usually, we sign a lot of great kids and lose them to professional baseball before school starts,” said Coach Gary Adams, in his 21st season with the Bruins. “This year, for some reason, we got lucky. This group is capable of doing some big things.”

UCLA, which made its only College World Series appearance in 1969, features a lineup that includes four freshmen, including third baseman Troy Glaus, first baseman-pitcher Pete Zamora, second baseman Brett Nista and outfielder Eric Brynes. Freshman left-hander Jim Parque could be the Bruins’ top starter.

Senior shortstop Gar Vallone (.344), sophomore catcher Tim DeCinces (48 RBIs) and outfielder Zak Ammirato are the top returning players.

LONG BEACH STATE

1994 Record: 41-19

The 49ers got a break when Arizona State hired Notre Dame’s Pat Murphy instead of Snow. With Snow back at the helm, 19th-ranked Long Beach is expected to make a strong bid for its fourth College World Series appearance in seven years.

The pitching staff is led by junior Scott Rivette, an All-American who was 14-1 with a 2.50 ERA and helped lead the 49ers to a share of the Big West Conference championship and a berth in the Midwest Regional last season. Junior left-hander Gabe Gonzalez was 4-2 with a 1.24 ERA and 12 saves.

Sophomore infielder Jeff Tagliaferri (.313, 34 RBIs), junior infielder Jeff Liefer (.282, five homers, 50 RBIs), senior catcher Kirk Pierce (.277, six homers) and senior infielder Tim Falsken (.276) are the top returning position players.

First baseman-designated hitter Jason Hodges and outfielder-infielder Will Skett, both community college transfers, are expected to have an immediate impact.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

1994 Record: 47-16

Coach Augie Garrido, in this 20th season at Fullerton, has a team shooting for a second consecutive trip to the College World Series.

The Titans’ success will depend largely on a pitching staff that is almost entirely new. Junior Jon Ward was 0-2 with a 3.67 ERA and one save last year, but is getting closer to recapturing the form that made him a first-round supplemental pick in the 1992 draft. Junior Ted Silva (4-4, 2.29 ERA, 13 saves) is another key pitcher.

Sophomore outfielder-pitcher Mark Kotsay batted .372 with four homers and 35 RBIs and is expected to lead the team on offense. Sophomore outfielder Jeremy Giambi (.294) and senior first baseman D.C. Olsen (.277) also will be counted on.

Freshman C.J. Ankrum, a first baseman-outfielder who was drafted by the Dodgers in the eighth round, is the top newcomer.

UC SANTA BARBARA

1994 Record: 21-33

The Gauchos are looking to move up in the Big West standings, but they will be hard-pressed to challenge for a spot among the league leaders.

Second-year Coach Bob Brontesma has a team led by junior outfielder Wynter Phoenix (.300, eight triples). Junior first baseman-pitcher Jared Janke (eight homers, 40 RBIs) and senior outfielder Doug Smaldino (eight homers, 41 RBIs) are also offensive threats.

Senior Steve Lane (5-5, 5.48 ERA) is the top returning pitcher, though Pat Treend, a fifth-year senior, has apparently overcome injury problems and is expected to provide the Gauchos with another solid starter.

Freshman outfielder Michael Young and infielder Louis Tapia, a transfer from Pierce College, are the top newcomers.

PEPPERDINE

1994 Record: 33-20

A new era begins in Malibu, where Coach Pat Harrison has replaced Lopez.

Harrison, a former All-American infielder at USC, was an assistant at USC, Oral Roberts and Oklahoma. He has been on the staff of College World Series champions at USC in 1973 and ’74 and at Oklahoma last season.

The Waves, ranked 17th, are hoping for good seasons from junior pitchers Greg Gregory (5-4, 3.56) and Jason LeBlanc (4-4, 5.67), who struggled last season after outstanding freshman seasons. Sophomore Matt Wise (4-6, 4.34) also returns.

Junior outfielder Ryan Christenson batted .341 with six homers, 44 RBIs and 28 stolen bases last season and was named to several preseason All-American teams. Junior first baseman Ruben Gamboa (.366, four homers, 30 RBIs) and senior infielder David Newhan (.239, four homers, 23 RBIs) are other top returners.

Key newcomers include freshman shortstop Kevin Workman and third baseman Dennis Konrady, a transfer from Riverside Community College.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

1994 Record: 26-31

Coach Jody Robinson is counting on an experienced pitching staff to keep the Lions in contention for the West Coast Conference title.

Sophomore Jason Hueth (5-3) and junior left-hander Ryan Graves (6-6) are the top starters. Senior Shawn Hammett (5-5) is the closer.

Sophomore shortstop Marc Mirizzi (.341), senior outfielder Mike Peters (.311) and junior first baseman Andy Collett (34 RBIs) will carry the offense.

The top newcomer is outfielder Mark Veronda, a sophomore who transferred from Fullerton College.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

1994 Record: 25-30

Northridge will try to win the title in the Western Athletic Conference’s West Division after missing the NCAA playoffs for the first time in four seasons in Division I.

Eric Gillespie (.342) moves from catcher to the outfield and Jason Shanahan (.342) moves from first base to third for a Matador team that might be short on the mound.

Pitchers John Najar (5-3) and Keven Kempton (0-3) are coming back from season-ending injuries. Junior college transfer Robert Crabtree is the top newcomer on the staff.