COLLEGE WORLD SERIES NOTEBOOK / LON EUBANKS : Ward Grows Into Leadership Role for the Titans

It has taken pitcher Jon Ward almost three years to reach the potential Cal State Fullerton’s coaches saw in him when he graduated from Huntington Beach High. But it appears he has finally made it.

Ward, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound right-hander, turned in a sparkling performance for the Titans Monday in the College World Series, giving up only four hits in seven innings in an 11-1 victory over Tennessee.

“For the past two years, I’ve really worked a lot on the mechanics of my pitching,” Ward said. “When I came out of high school, I used to drag my arm on pitches, and when I did that I wasn’t sure where the ball was going. Now I can tell when that’s happening, and do something about it.”

Coach Augie Garrido gives associate head coach George Horton, who handles the pitchers, considerable credit for helping Ward.

Ward’s fastball is in the 89- to 90-m.p.h. range, and pro scouts have always liked that. He was the first Titan pitcher chosen in the amateur draft, in the eighth round by St. Louis.

But his main problem has been control.

“He’s developed much better control of his breaking ball,” Horton said. “That’s made a big difference.”

Little more than a month ago, Ward still was having problems with consistency. He was hit especially hard by Nevada in the first game of a Big West Conference series in Reno.

“He was really embarrassed by that game,” Horton said. “As I recall, he didn’t even make it out of the second inning. But since then, he’s pitched four good games in a row. He’s got his confidence back. And now we have more confidence in him. Now I feel comfortable asking him to do more different things on the mound, and he’s been doing them.”

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Ward’s record was 5-3 in early April, but Garrido and Horton were determined he could turn it around. Now he’s 10-3.

“We’ve had to be extremely patient with him,” Horton said, “and it’s been frustrating for him, as well as for us. But we’ve stuck with him, and we feel it’s paid off. Right now we feel he’s as good as anyone in the country. He may not be as dominating now as Jonathan Johnson of Florida State, or someone like that, but we’re not afraid to put him out there against anyone.”

Ward’s only problem Monday was holding runners at first, which was the main reason the Vols stole second four times in the first three innings.

“Tennessee has some very fine athletes, but the main reason they were able to steal those bases was because of Jon’s high kick on his delivery,” Garrido said. “They got themselves into scoring position, but they didn’t score except once. Jon was hard to hit and hard to score on.”

Tim Dixon (12-0) is scheduled to start Thursday. Horton said the Titans probably would go back to Ted Silva, winning pitcher in the opening game against Stanford, in the game that follows.

That could be the second of two semifinal-round games Friday, or the championship game Saturday if Fullerton wins Thursday.

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Mark Kotsay and Silva were named to the American Baseball Coaches Assn. All-American team Tuesday. Kotsay was the only sophomore chosen to the first team.

Tennessee’s Todd Helton received the Dick Howser award as college baseball player of theyear.

Kotsay has gotten off to a hot start in the Series. He was four for four with a grand slam Monday against Tennessee. That gives him six hits in eight at-bats in Omaha this year. Kotsay is 12 for 21 (.571) over the last two years in Series play.

Sam Favata set the school record in 1979 with a .417 average. Kotsay is hitting .424 with 19 home runs and 86 runs batted in.

Titan Notes

Outfielder Tony Miranda has a sore elbow and was held out of batting practice Tuesday by trainer Chris Mumaw. “With two days off, we want to give him as much rest as possible,” Mumaw said. “Having these two days off will really help everyone.” Reserve pitcher John Mitchell has the flu. . . . The Titans have 82 home runs this season, 10 fewer than the school record.

College World

Series Schedule

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

* USC 16, Florida State 11

* Tennessee 6, Stanford 2

TODAY’S GAME

* Miami vs. USC, 4:35 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAME

* Cal State Fullerton vs.

Tennessee, 12:35 p.m.

TV: ESPN (all times Pacific)

Los Angeles Times