Northridge’s Batesole Is a New Fish in Waters Filled With Old Sharks

Mike Batesole begins his first head-coaching job more than 900 victories behind three of his colleagues in the Western Athletic Conference. But Cal State Northridge’s baseball coach is trying to make up in positive energy what he lacks in experience.

Batesole’s players appreciate his approach and believe the victories will come.

“He is such a hard worker,” catcher Robert Fick said. “The team takes after our leader. He works just as hard as he did last year as an assistant coach. We are following his example.”

In time, Batesole must match wits with the likes of Fresno State’s Bob Bennett (1,048 victories in 29 seasons), San Diego State’s Jim Dietz (988 in 24) and Hawaii’s Les Murakami (927 in 25). In this conference, Cal State Sacramento’s John Smith (556 in 17) ranks as a greenhorn.

But for now, Batesole is focused on preparing his own team for the rigors of a demanding schedule. The Matadors open today at 2 against Cal State Los Angeles in the first of a three-game home series.

“Everyone is excited because with so many new players and a new coaching staff, we want to take the field and get going,” said Batesole, 31, a former Dodger minor leaguer. “We have a lot of guys battling for positions, and early on they will all get opportunities. They’ve earned that chance.”

Winning a starting position will require more than a potent bat, a departure from recent years. The Matadors are placing a premium on defense under the direction of first-year assistant Chris Stevens, a former Azusa Pacific shortstop.

“Instead of just trying to survive on defense and knock in runs, we will win games on defense,” Batesole said. “We will be much more disciplined defensively and should play better as a unit.”

Returning starters Adam Kennedy and Eric Gillespie have moved from the outfield to the infield. Kennedy, the left fielder last season, is the shortstop; Gillespie, formerly the right fielder, is the third baseman.

The pair are not out of position. More than likely that was the case last year.

“I’ve played third since I was 8 years old,” Gillespie said.

As for Kennedy, Collegiate Baseball magazine selected him a preseason third-team All-American shortstop.

Cesar Martinez, a junior transfer from Pierce, will play second base, and senior Grant Hohman, senior transfer David Stevenson and junior transfer Matt Anderson are competing at first base.

Five players will get playing time in the outfield for the first several weeks: sophomore Jeremy Conrad, junior Heath McElwee, freshman Ryan Hurd and junior transfers Jose Miranda and Kurt Airoso.

One of two specific needs is getting productive right-handed hitting to complement the left-handed bats of Fick, Kennedy and Gillespie, all of whom hit well over .300 last season.

The other is finding reliable pitching in addition to Robby Crabtree, a senior right-hander who will start today. Last season, Crabtree had a team-leading 4.43 earned-run average and an 8-7 record, striking out 126 in 126 innings.

The team ERA was a woeful 6.39, a major reason the Matadors were 28-29 despite batting .316, but significant improvement is expected from a pair of left-handed sophomores who struggled last season. Benito Flores and Erasmo Ramirez both pitched well in intrasquad games the past two weeks.

“We needed one or the other to step up and be a starter, and they both have,” Batesole said.

Nathan Rice, a junior transfer from Sequoias, gives Northridge a third left-hander.

Senior right-hander Juan Velazquez, who set a school record with 28 appearances last season, should again provide quality middle relief. Senior Evan Howland, the only player with three years of experience at Northridge, will be used as an occasional starter and in long relief.

Several right-handers have been added to the staff, including Andrew Settle, a senior transfer from New Mexico, and Scott Hofman, a sophomore transfer from Los Angeles City .

Juniors Gary Stephenson, Jesse Yeomans, Brandon Nickens, Jason Cole and Robert Ballester are right-handed junior college transfers.

Bobby Cowan, a transfer from Canyons, is academically ineligible.

Early in the season, expect to see a parade of pitchers, regardless of how well they perform.

“We’ve had about eight pitchers handle intrasquad games really well,” Batesole said. “They all need a chance to prove themselves.

“It’s time to see what we can do against an opponent.”