Even Now, the Titans Are Looking to ’96 : College baseball: After fine season, Garrido sounds alarm about expectations for next year.

Three College World Series appearances in four years, including two in a row. And now another national championship.

What can Cal State Fullerton do for an encore?

Maybe make another trip to Omaha in 1996. Even Sunday, with the celebrations of the school’s third national championship still echoing in Omaha, then bubbling over at John Wayne Airport and Titan Field in receptions when the team returned home, there already was talk of next season.

“We said this was a two-year team, and we still think it can be,” Fullerton associate head Coach George Horton said. “But a lot will depend on whether next year’s team has the kind of chemistry this year’s did.”

Regardless, the sort of expectations Coach Augie Garrido carefully tried to avoid for this year’s team are unavoidable with a player of outfielder Mark Kotsay’s ability returning, along with several members of the team that finished 57-9.

But Garrido, who now has coached Fullerton teams to titles in three decades, sounded the alarm about expecting too much too soon next year, even before the Titans walked out of Rosenblatt Stadium Saturday after beating USC for the championship.

“The ’79 team was a lot like this,” Garrido said. “They were all young and we had almost the same team back, although we lost [Tim] Wallach and a couple of other good players. But that team spent the whole next season admiring their Series rings.”

The 1980 team was 47-18 for the season, but was eliminated quickly in the NCAA West Regional.

“I hope these players don’t develop a celebrity mentality because if they do, they lose the greatest gift they have,” Garrido said.

It seems unlikely, however, that a team with Kotsay on it will have those kinds of problems. Kotsay has become as well known for his work ethic as his superb performances. “I think we probably will have a lot of expectations set on us next year because of what this year’s team did,” Kotsay said. “But I think the focus will have to be on working and playing as hard as we can, the way we did this year.”

Much will depend on how successful Horton is at reviving a pitching staff that again will suffer key losses from pro signings. Ted Silva, who was 18-1 with two victories in the Series, seems likely to sign, although he’s not pleased about being drafted no earlier than the 21st round by Texas. “We’ve talked just a little about it, but there’s nothing definite yet,” Horton said.

Junior starter Jon Ward (10-3) is expected to sign after being picked in the eighth round by St. Louis. The other regular starter was senior Tim Dixon (13-0), who was drafted in the 14th round by Montreal.

Horton already is considering turning Mark Chavez, a relief pitcher, into a starter after Silva made such a successful transition from the bullpen this year. “He’s done it before, and I think he could be a solid starter if that’s where he’s needed,” Horton said.

Other possibilities are Scott Hild, who had some promising efforts this year as a freshman, along with juniors Tom Dillon and John Mitchell. Todd Singelyn, a transfer from Arizona, will be back after surgery forced him to miss his junior season. Horton hopes some of the recruits will help. The Titans signed two right-handed pitchers from Rancho Santiago College, Kirk Irvine and Luis Estrella along with two high school pitchers, Tim Baron of Thousand Oaks and Steve Lawson of La Verne Damien.

The Titans faced similar pitching concerns last year when Mike Parisi, Dan Ricabal and Chad Rolish signed and Matt Wagner was ruled ineligible by the NCAA and transferred to Lewis-Clark State (Ida.).

Whether several other players sign pro contacts will have an impact on the team’s returning strength. Catcher Brian Loyd and outfielder Jeremy Giambi each have two years of eligibility remaining, but both were eligible for the draft because they were redshirt freshmen. Both said Sunday they are undecided about whether they will sign.

Loyd, who was chosen to the Series all-star team, said he probably won’t decide until late summer after tryouts for Team USA. Loyd was selected in the 39th round by Cincinnati.

“If I make the national team, that would give me a good chance to play in the Olympics, so I feel certain I’d be back at Fullerton if that happens,” Loyd said. “I think a lot of the scouts knew I was planning on that this summer anyway, which may have accounted for where I was drafted.”

Giambi was chosen in the 38th round by Detroit. “I’m going to set up a meeting and I’ll probably have a better idea after that,” he said.

Senior D.C. Olsen, a 15th-round pick by Montreal, will leave the first base job vacant along with his role as a team leader.

Freshman C.J. Ankrum could take over at first after spending most of this season as the designated hitter. Ankrum also could move into one of the outfield spots, either in left replacing senior Tony Miranda or in right if Giambi signs.

The left side of the infield remains solid with sophomore Jack Jones at shortstop and junior Tony Martinez at third base. Martinez said he definitely will be back. He was chosen to the Series all-star team along with Kotsay, Loyd and Silva.

“I considered this a two-year deal from the start, and I’m looking forward to playing another year for Coach Garrido,” Martinez said.

The coaches are particularly pleased Martinez will be back. “Tony was a special player for us in the last third of the season, and he’ll benefit a lot by getting on a good weight-training program before next year,” Horton said.

Second baseman Joe Fraser, taken in the 27th round by Minnesota, is still undecided. “I want to see what the Twins say and then talk to Augie,” he said.

But even if some familiar faces will be missing, Kotsay and the other returning players will assure Fullerton a good starting point for a new team, but one with the same dream: a return to Omaha.