Transfer Leads to Dream Fulfillment : College World Series: Mitchell goes from UCLA to Fullerton, lands in Omaha.

John Mitchell called it the best feeling he’s experienced in sports.

When Cal State Fullerton clinched the NCAA South Regional baseball championship last week, Mitchell knew he was about to fulfill a dream by participating in the College World Series.

“Nothing compares to that,” said Mitchell, a junior right-hander from Rio Mesa High. “I’ve never felt the way I did that day.”

Happiness on the baseball field has been spotty for Mitchell, who is 3-0 with a 5.92 earned-run average in 59 1/3 innings for top-seeded Fullerton, which opens the World Series today against eighth-seeded Stanford.

After graduating from Rio Mesa, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander played two years at UCLA before transferring to Fullerton about a month before this season began.

Mitchell was 1-3 with a 6.49 ERA for UCLA in 1993. He made 25 appearances, including five starts, and pitched 43 innings. Last year, he was 2-4 with a 7.98 ERA, striking out 35 and walking 30 in 38 1/3 innings.

Mitchell began practice in Westwood last fall expecting to join the Bruins’ starting rotation.

“I went into my [evaluation] meeting at the end of our workouts thinking I had done well enough to move into a starting role,” he said. “When the coaches told me I wasn’t even being considered for a starting spot, I was shocked.”

Mitchell requested and received his release from Coach Gary Adams.

He chose Fullerton over Long Beach State, Pepperdine and the University of San Francisco.

“When John came in, we were really impressed,” said George Horton, Fullerton’s associate head coach. “We saw him as a fifth starter that might progress to become our third or fourth guy.”

Mitchell, however, never really found his rhythm for the Titans.

There were some high points, such as when he struck out the side against San Diego on 10 pitches, but there mostly was inconsistency in Mitchell’s performance.

During a relief appearance against Rice in the South Regional, Mitchell gave up two hits, including a home run, and walked the bases loaded before he was replaced without recording an out.

“He’s going through a tough time on the mound right now,” Horton said. “We think next year, with a full year of being around here, we’ll have a chance to correct some things and help him get back on track.

“He’s going to be a good professional and a good pitcher for us. It’s just a matter of getting his confidence back.”

Mitchell plans to return to Fullerton for his final year of eligibility unless he is selected in the draft. He was not chosen in the first 18 rounds.

“I would like to come back here because I know I would be one of the starters, and with all of our position players coming back, we have a great chance to get back to Omaha again,” he said. “Right now, though, I’d just like to get into a game here, to help us win and to say I pitched in the College World Series.”