Bubb Muzzles Fick After Perceived Knock on Rival

Robert Fick’s off-hand comment earlier this week that he believes he is the best catcher in the nation has been interpreted by Bay Area media as a knock on Stanford’s A.J. Hinch.

Fick said nothing could be further from the truth.

“I respect the heck out of Hinch and I hope we are friends during Team USA tryouts in a couple weeks,” Fick said. “I’m not comparing myself to anyone, I just meant that I believe in myself.”

Fick, a Northridge junior, was chosen by Collegiate Baseball magazine as first-team All-American catcher over Hinch, a consensus first-team selection last season.

Hinch isn’t quite sure what to make of the comparisons.

“I haven’t met Robert Fick and I want to reserve judging him on anything he might or might not have said until I do,” he said.

Paul Bubb, Northridge athletic director, forbade Fick from speaking to the media after Thursday’s loss to Stanford in which Fick was ejected.

The NCAA stipulates that players should be made available for interviews and that a team can be fined for not complying. However, NCAA administrator Jim Wright said the rule is somewhat vague.

“Based on the circumstances, it was not in Robert’s or the university’s best interest for him to be interviewed,” Bubb said. “I think we were within the rules, and if we weren’t I’ll take responsibility for that.”

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Even though the Matadors must win four in a row to advance to the World Series, Coach Mike Batesole decided not to risk being eliminated without having used his ace. Therefore Erasmo Ramirez, a sophomore left-hander who is 13-1, will pitch today at 3 p.m.

“We have to go with Mo and take this thing one game at a time,” Batesole said.

Left-handers Benny Flores (6-2) and Nathan Rice (6-2), and right-hander Gary Stephenson (4-2) will be called upon should the Matadors avoid elimination.