COLLEGE WORLD SERIES NOTEBOOK / LON EUBANKS : Titans Hope to Get Money’s Worth Out of Silva

Pitching is always a big factor in getting to the College World Series, but quality becomes more important than depth, it seems, once a team makes it to Omaha.

Cal State Fullerton plans to start All-American right-hander Ted Silva (16-1) in its opening game Saturday against Stanford, and the Titan coaches hope Silva can pitch as many as three times if the Titans can make it to the title game June 10.

“The way the games are spread out here, he could go that often by pitching in the opener,” said associate head coach George Horton, who handles the pitching staff.

Horton said Silva is back in good shape after straining a muscle in his back earlier in the season.

Having pitched in the Series last year should be in Silva’s favor, Horton said.

“That should help a lot, although he also could still remember that homer he gave up here last year too,” Horton said, recalling that Silva gave up the 12th-inning home run to Georgia Tech’s Nomar Garciaparra that eliminated Fullerton in the semifinals.

Horton said he hasn’t decided whether right-hander Jon Ward (9-3) or left-hander Tim Dixon (12-0) will start the second game of the double-elimination tournament.

“Jon has actually pitched a little better than Tim has in his last couple of outings,” Horton said. “It might come down to whether we feel the opponent is stronger hitting on the left or right side.”

Coach Augie Garrido doesn’t buy the idea that pitching is overwhelmingly the most important element in the World Series. “I think it still comes down to balance,” he said.

*

A year ago the Titans had some inner turmoil, but players say the team is free from that this season.

There were more experienced players who had difficulty accepting backup roles, first baseman D. C. Olsen said. “We don’t have any of that this year,” Olsen said.

Center fielder Mark Kotsay agrees. “I was starting last year as a freshman, and I know that bothered some of the older players who weren’t starting,” Kotsay said.

Garrido gives Olsen, Kotsay and other team leaders credit for building the harmony they say exists this season.

Olsen points to Robert Matos as the most striking example of a player who has accepted his backup role without complaint this season. “Every inning he’s the one in the dugout pumping us up.” Olsen said.

There’s no doubt Matos could be playing regularly for many college teams, but the Titans are so well-stocked with quality outfielders that Matos was required to accept a less prominent role for much of the season.

Matos, however, had some clutch performances late in the season. He hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning of Fullerton’s regular-season victory over Santa Barbara. In the regular-season series against Long Beach State, Matos hit a home run in the ninth to tie the score in one of the games, then had a game-wining double in the ninth the next day.

*

Garrido says contributions from players who haven’t been playing regularly have a big impact at tournament time.

“It’s always going to be that way if we accomplish what we want to accomplish at this time of the year,” Garrido said.

Garrido pointed to the pitching of freshman Scott Hild and fifth-year senior Kimson Hollibaugh along with the play of freshman third-baseman Mike Lamb as key factors in the 8-7 victory over Rice in the regional championship game.

Hild made only his fourth start of the season and went four innings, giving up five runs and six hits, but the coaches thought he pitched better than the statistics indicated. Only three runs were earned.

Hollibaugh gave up only two hits and no runs in 2 2/3 innings. Lamb, who went into the game when the Titans pinch hit for Tony Martinez, drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly, and made a sparkling defensive play in the ninth inning.

“When players do things like that, that’s my definition of a championship team,” Garrido said.