Respect Hard to Come By for CSUN

This is a tough crowd.

Cal State Northridge is 12-1 and ranked No. 10 in a national poll, but that doesn’t impress coaches in the Western Athletic Conference, who last week predicted the order of finish.

Northridge came in a forgettable fourth, behind San Diego State, Hawaii and Fresno State. The coaches of those teams have combined for about 3,000 victories, so either they know something the rest of us don’t or they’ve officially reached the curmudgeon stage.

The conference season, however, will still be played on the field.

“The wins so far are nice, but conference is what we’ve been preparing for all along,” said Robert Crabtree, the Matadors’ right-handed senior ace.

Talent in the WAC appears to be less than overwhelming, making the race wide open.

Winning the WAC does not guarantee a team a regional playoff berth. For the first time, the conference champion must play the champion of the West Coast Conference in a best-of-three “play-in” series.

“I’m not sure there is a clear WAC favorite right now,” Northridge Coach Mike Batesole said.

Last season, Fresno State was the runaway conference champion, finishing 3 1/2 games ahead of Cal State Sacramento and 5 1/2 in front of third-place Northridge.

The Bulldogs looked to be the front-runners again last fall, but they have been hit hard by ineligibility. Brendan Behn and Jeff Naster, two returning starting pitchers, and infielder Clinton Stone are among the half-dozen players who couldn’t make the grades.

Fresno State (5-8) has struggled, although three losses were inflicted by No. 1-ranked Cal State Fullerton. Jeff Weaver, a redshirt freshman from Simi Valley High, has emerged as the staff ace, posting a 2-1 record with 28 strikeouts in 31 innings.

San Diego State (9-6-2) started slowly but has won eight of its last nine entering this weekend’s three-game series at Hawaii. Aztec Coach Jim Dietz has 997 victories, but getting No. 1,000 at Hawaii will be no easy task.

Right-hander Brian Scott, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, is only 1-1 but has a 1.71 earned-run average and 32 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings. Outfielder Steve Hagins and first baseman Travis Loe are each batting about .350 and have combined for seven home runs and 35 runs batted in.

Hawaii (10-6) has endured the most-difficult nonconference schedule of any WAC team, having played three-game series against Stanford, UCLA and California, all ranked teams. However, all but one of the Rainbows’ games have been at home, where they draw an average of 3,200.

Mark Johnson, a first-team preseason All-American, is Hawaii’s undisputed ace, although he has struggled, allowing 37 hits and 25 runs in 36 innings. Johnson, a 6-3 junior and Olympic hopeful, was 8-8 last season with an ERA of 3.53.

Coach Les Murakami believes his middle-infield combination of shortstop Jaime Ahu and second baseman Jody Napuunoa is the best he has had in his 25 seasons. Napuunoa is batting .385, Ahu .356.

Outfielder Robert Medeiros is Hawaii’s top offensive threat, batting .368 with team-high totals of 16 runs, 13 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Medeiros batted .320 with 25 stolen bases last season.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (7-3) already is 2-0 in the WAC, having swept a season-opening series from Sacramento. Second baseman Jeff Marston (.406), third baseman Steve Rohlmeier (.387) and first baseman Ryan Brennan (.368) are off to hot starts, although right fielder Rob Neal (.222) is the team’s most-experienced player.

Neal, a senior from Westlake High, missed last season because of an arm injury. He has a .342 average with 106 RBIs in his career.

Opponents are batting .170 against right-handed closer Jason Novi. Matt Atterberry, a senior right-hander, has been the Mustangs’ most-effective starter, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.98 ERA in three starts.

After losing seven of its first eight, Sacramento (3-9) has won two of four. Hornet pitchers have had difficulty: The staff ERA is 6.57 and opponents are batting .306. First baseman Jason DeCanio is the team’s hottest hitter, batting .327 after going nine for 18 last week.