Northridge Waves Goodbye With Conference Flag

Voted down and voted out before the season’s first pitch, the Cal State Northridge Matadors played their Western Athletic Conference schedule anyway, and Saturday they were glad they did.

Northridge blasted Sacramento, 9-0, at Matador Field and grabbed the WAC Western Division championship, the Matadors’ first title since winning the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. in 1990, their last year in Division II.

In a preseason poll, WAC coaches picked the Matadors to finish fourth in their six-team division, and the conference voted to boot them from its ranks beginning next season.

Told to go away, Northridge proceeded to win going away.

The Matadors (44-14, 20-9 in WAC play) lead the nation in victories and have tied the school’s Division I record for victories.

“We’re CSUN, a bunch of nobodies, picked to finish near the bottom, nobody wants us in their conference,” catcher Robert Fick said. “But we showed we are a relentless bunch of nobodies.”

Relentless was a description used by players and coaches alike.

“These guys got it done because they are relentless in their work habits, relentless in their discipline, relentless in their unselfishness, relentless in their accountability,” Coach Mike Batesole said.

And once again, Batesole, 31 and in his first season as a head coach at any level, proved relentless in his composure. He sat quietly on the bench as he does after every game, the only difference being he was soaked after players doused him in ice water.

Several times, frustrated players from Sacramento (10-42, 3-26) nearly started fights with Northridge players. The heat of the moment even caused a few of the Matadors to vent emotions at one another. Through it all, Batesole remained calm, never raising his voice, never showing displeasure.

“This is big for our team, but it is especially big for our coaches,” said Robert Crabtree, who improved to 13-5 by allowing one hit and striking out 11 over six innings. “They were unproven and they have done a great job.”

Northridge gave Crabtree an early cushion with three runs in the first, three in the second and three in the fourth. Sacramento left-hander Tom Dillon walked four consecutive batters in the first and designated hitter David Stevenson doubled to score two runs.

In the third, a double by Grant Hohman scored Eric Gillespie, a single by Cesar Martinez scored Hohman and a single by Adam Kennedy scored Jose Miranda. Kennedy’s run batted in was the team’s 474th this season, a school record.

Stevenson blasted a three-run home run in the fourth, his sixth and second in two games.

Crabtree allowed only a single by Billy Hoover, a freshman from Calabasas High, before giving way to Juan Velazquez and Evan Howland.

Matador Notes

Northridge will face WAC Eastern Division champion Brigham Young (35-17) in a best-of-three series in Provo, Utah, beginning Thursday. BYU clinched its division by defeating Wyoming, 30-13, Saturday. . . . Robert Crabtree needs one victory to tie the school record of 14, held by three pitchers. . . . Adam Kennedy needs six runs and Robert Fick eight RBIs to equal school records. . . . Right-hander Gary Stephenson (3-2) will start for the Matadors today against Sacramento.