COLLEGE WORLD SERIES : Alvarez Overcomes Pain, and USC Gains

Gabe Alvarez is not sure what caused more pain, the strained muscle behind his right shoulder or the 14 games he had to spend as USC’s designated hitter because of it.

Alvarez, a junior from El Monte, had started every game of his previous two seasons at shortstop.

“It was frustrating because I wasn’t helping the team at all,” Alvarez said. “When I was hurt, I always told myself, ‘When it comes down to it, I’ll be there for the team.’ That was the only thing I could do.”

Alvarez was right where the Trojans needed him during last week’s NCAA West Regional at Fresno. He played his usual outstanding defense and hit a first-inning three-run homer against Long Beach State in the championship game, helping send USC on its way to the College World Series for the first time since 1978.

USC will be looking for Alvarez to step up today when the sixth-seeded Trojans open play in the World Series against third-seeded Miami. The Trojans and Hurricanes will meet after second-seeded Florida State has played seventh-seeded Oklahoma, the defending national champion.

In the other bracket, top-seeded Cal State Fullerton opens Saturday against eighth-seeded Stanford, and fourth-seeded Clemson plays fifth-seeded Tennessee.

A double-elimination format is used for bracket play, with winners advancing to a championship game June 10.

“This is what I came to USC for--to play in the World Series and compete for a national championship,” said Alvarez, batting .358 with 12 homers and 55 runs batted in. “This has been a dream of mine for a long time.”

Alvarez, the son of former major league infielder Manny Alvarez, was selected by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the amateur draft Thursday. Alvarez said the injury and the games it forced him to miss at shortstop might have caused him to slip slightly in the eyes of scouting directors, many of whom had projected him as a first-round pick.

“It definitely had an impact,” Alvarez said. “There were several times when the head scouts came to see me play, and I was DH-ing.”

USC Coach Mike Gillespie said Alvarez’s return to short in late March enabled the Trojans to work their way out of a slump and begin the run that carried them to the Pacific 10 Conference and regional championships.

“Just having him out there on the field seemed to be comforting to all of our players, even though he wasn’t on a tear or anything once he got back into the lineup at short,” Gillespie said. “It’s no coincidence we started playing well once he was back in there.”

USC begins the World Series with several players besides Alvarez performing exceptionally well.

Junior outfielder Geoff Jenkins, a first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, is batting .389 with 19 homers and 69 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Jacque Jones is batting .350 and senior outfielder Walter Dawkins is at .336, and they also had big regionals. Senior pitcher Ben Tucker, 6-2 with a 3.66 ERA, is expected to start against Miami. Randy Flores (11-3, 3.28) or Brian Cooper (7-2, 4.44) will start the Trojans’ second game on Sunday.

USC will need all of its weapons to contend for a championship in a World Series that includes four teams--Fullerton, Florida State, Miami and Oklahoma--that were here last year.

Top-ranked Fullerton (53-9) is making its ninth World Series appearance. The Titans are led by sophomore outfielder-pitcher Mark Kotsay, who is batting .422 with 18 homers and 75 RBIs and also has nine saves and an 0.38 ERA as a closer. Junior right-hander Ted Silva is 14-1 with a 2.51 earned-run average for the Titans, who won national titles in 1979 and 1984 and played in the championship game in 1992.

Florida State (52-14) features a solid pitching staff that includes junior right-hander Jonathan Johnson (10-3, 3.10 ERA), sophomore left-hander David Yocum (11-2, 2.42) and closer Phil Olson (seven saves, 1.09 ERA).

Miami (46-15), which won NCAA championships in 1982 and 1985, has infielder Danny Buxbaum batting .343 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs. Senior Kenny Henderson (10-3, 2.91) and junior Jason Adge (11-4, 4.06) a transfer from Sacramento City College, are the top pitchers.

Clemson (54-12) is led by outfielder Shane Monahan, batting .394 with 12 homers and 51 RBIs, and first baseman David Miller (.391).

Tennessee (48-14) is led by first baseman-pitcher Todd Helton, named Baseball America’s college player of the year on Thursday. Helton is batting .415 with 19 homers and 84 RBIs, and is 7-1 with a 1.53 ERA and 10 saves.

Oklahoma (42-14) once again has a California-dominated roster. Senior shortstop Rich Hills (.309) is from Yorba Linda, outfielder Aric Thomas (.352) is from Riverside, and outfielder Bobby Brown (.370) is from San Luis Obispo. Left-hander Mark Redman (13-2, 2.30) of Del Mar is the pitching ace.

Junior catcher A.J. Hinch (.369) and senior third baseman Steve Carver (.326) lead Stanford (38-23). Freshman right-hander Kyle Peterson (11-1, 3.03 ERA) has been the top pitcher for an injury-riddled club that was a preseason favorite to win the title.

“The key for us is going to be defense,” Alvarez said. “We know we’re going to hit, and our pitching should also be good.

“This is what we’ve been working toward for a long time. Now it’s time to go out and get it done.”