CAL STATE FULLERTON NOTEBOOK / LON EUBANKS : Perks of NCAA Title Include a Trip to the White House

Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team is set to reap one more reward for winning the College World Series.

Plans have been set to visit the White House and meet with President Clinton Sept. 15.

“It looks as though all 25 players who were on the World Series roster are going to be able to make the trip, and we’re pleased about that,” Coach Augie Garrido said. “It’s one of those things every kid dreams about . . . going to the White House and meeting the President.”

The coaches and players will be joined by various other athletic department personnel and university officials, including President Milton Gordon.

“The plans at this point are for a ceremony in the Rose Garden on that Friday afternoon,” Garrido said.

Garrido said the players will give Clinton a team jersey with his name and No. 1 on the back, a Titan baseball cap, as well as jogging suits for the President, First Lady and their daughter.

“The university is sponsoring the whole trip for all the coaches and players, and we’re really grateful for that kind of support,” Garrido said.

The official party will leave on Sept. 14 and return on Sept. 17. A Washington area alumni reception also is scheduled for Sept. 15.

The trip will be a reunion for the players, many of whom scattered quickly following the victory in Omaha. World Series star Mark Kotsay and catcher Brian Loyd left almost immediately to play for Team USA, and various other players signed pro contracts and left for a summer in the rookie leagues. Others played in various summer collegiate leagues.

Garrido also had a busy summer.

“It seems like I’ve been asked to make quite a few more appearances than normal and I guess quite a bit of that is a result of the championship,” Garrido said.

He also was the guest of his actor-director friend, Fullerton alumnus Kevin Costner, for the premiere of Costner’s movie “Waterworld.” Costner was Garrido’s guest at the College World Series.

A rally to honor the team also will be held at 11:15 a.m. Thursday at the Becker Amphitheater on the Fullerton campus.

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Freshman gymnastics recruit Katy Maty turned in a strong showing in the World University Games in late August, taking fifth in the floor exercise. It was the highest finish by an American in the event.

“Katy showed again that she’s going to be a big boost to our program this year,” said assistant coach Julie Knight, who was a judge at the competition.

The U.S. team finished second behind Russia. China was third.

Maty, who is from Chandler, Ariz., also finished fifth in the all-around in the U.S. senior national club championships earlier this summer.

“She’s very capable in every event, although if she has a weakness right now it’s probably in the vault,” Knight said. “But we expect her to be a starter in at least three other events.”

Maty is one of four incoming freshmen that Knight believes will help elevate the program. She and Coach Lynn Rogers also will be counting heavily on freshman Courtney Bogart of Levittown, Pa.

“They have two different styles,” Knight said. “Katy will be our tallest gymnast at about 5-7 and she has a very elegant style, while Courtney is out of the Mary Lou Retton mold. She’s shorter, but she’s powerful and explosive.”

The two other freshmen are walk-ons Sarah Taylor of Modesto and Holly Tennison of Lake Forest.

“They should give this team the most depth we’ve had in a while,” Knight said.

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The men’s soccer team, ranked sixth in the nation, opened its season in the Reebok Invitational over the weekend, losing to Penn State, 3-2, Saturday and beating Vermont, 4-1, Monday.

“We had seven players playing in their first Division I game,” said Coach Al Mistri. “So it will take a little while for us to get to the level we want to be. But we’re confident that we’ll be at the level we’ve been in the past later in the season. We’re a talented team.”

Mistri said he was especially pleased with the play of two freshmen, forward Joey DiGiamarino and goalkeeper Mike Forensich.

Damien Brown, a top defender from last year’s team, didn’t play in either game because of a knee injury in the first work of practice, but he’s expected back this week.

The women’s team won both its games in the tournament, defeating Arizona, 3-2, and Sacramento State, 5-2. Amber Dickey scored a school-record four goals against Sacramento and and one against Arizona.

Titan Notes

Former Fullerton baseball player Dante Powell was voted the best defensive outfielder in the California League in a poll of league managers. He also was rated as having the second best arm among outfielders, as well as having the second best base-running speed in the league. However, he was not among the leading choices in any of the hitting categories. . . . Soccer player Joey Franchino played for the West team in the U.S. Olympic Festival this summer. . . . Mark Kotsay has been nominated for the Golden Spikes award, which is presented to the nation’s top amateur baseball player each year. Tim Wallach of the Dodgers and Phil Nevin of the Detroit Tigers received the honor when they played for the Titans. . . . Michelle Gromacki and Susie Para, assistant softball coaches, did not make the U.S. Olympic team after tryouts last week.