Cal Lutheran Knows It’s Time for Series Thoughts

Maybe it’s not such a longshot. Maybe Cal Lutheran can return to the Division III World Series, and this time, maybe, just maybe. . .

Aw, it’s too early to start on that. For the ebullient Kingsmen, whose lively, thoroughly G-rated dugout banter could drown the engine noise of a low-flying 747, whatever may be, may be.

Longshots? Three very long shots in a row erased any maybes in a 6-0 nonconference--but not inconsequential--victory over Chapman on Tuesday at Cal Lutheran.

Brad Smith, Anthony Olden and Adam Rauch hit consecutive home runs in the eighth inning to break open a 1-0 nailbiter and make a decisive statement against Cal Lutheran’s probable regional opponent.

“That was something to see,” said Coach Marty Slimak, who has observed the best and worst of times. The Kingsmen advanced to the World Series final last season only to blow a lead in the last inning. The same thing happened in ‘94, when Slimak was an assistant under Rich Hill.

But here they come again, marching resolutely toward the postseason with a roster of Division I castoffs, junior college transfers and a few local kids content to play in front of family and friends.

Exhibit A: Smith bolted the University of San Diego for Cal Lutheran in November after being told he would not start despite leading the team in home runs during the fall.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior first baseman-designated hitter from Huntington Beach is batting .419 with 19 doubles and four homers.

Exhibit B: Olden, who alternates with Smith at first and designated hitter, never played organized baseball until attending Victor Valley junior college. Now he is a feared power hitter (nine homers, .364 batting average) whose homer against Chapman carried over the center-field fence more than 400 feet away.

Olden, a 6-2, 220-pound junior, is, in fact, rather olden for a college player; he is 23 and will celebrate his third wedding anniversary next week.

Exhibit C: Rauch, a junior outfielder known better for his 30 career stolen bases than his power, starred at Moorpark High. He serves as a volunteer coach during the off-season for the Musketeers, one of whom is Taylor Slimak, Marty’s son.

All of which makes for one, big happy clan of Kingsmen.

Barring a collapse down the stretch, Cal Lutheran (22-6), ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the West, will gain an invitation to the two-team West Regional for the fourth year in a row. And beating Chapman (17-10), ranked No. 15 nationally and No. 2 in the West, pretty much assured the Kingsmen of hosting the entire best-of-five regional, which begins May 17.

Claremont-Mudd, which Cal Lutheran defeated in three of four meetings this year, is the only other team in the running for a regional berth. Chapman, which hosts Cal Lutheran in a rematch today, has defeated Claremont-Mudd two out of three.

The Kingsmen entered the game batting .355 and averaging 10.4 runs. But pitching and defense kept them ahead of the Panthers until victory became as easy as one, two, three.

Left-hander Richard Bell, a senior who is 7-1 with a 2.11 earned-run average, shut out Chapman for four innings despite allowing five hits and two walks. Bell tired early because he was pitching on only three days rest, and right-hander Marco Marquez (6-1), a transfer from Texas Pan-American, went the rest of the way, retiring the last 11 batters.

The Kingsmen still have plenty of arms for today’s game. Sophomore Erik Kiszczak (7-1) will start and is backed by senior Craig Arnold (2-0, two saves, 0.39 ERA). Opponents are batting .190 against Arnold, an Oxnard College transfer who sat out 1995 with an arm injury and pitched only 10 1/3 innings last season.

Several fine defensive plays were turned in. Second baseman Frank Maldonado was especially good, ranging to his left and right for ground balls and making six assists.

“We have a good defensive team,” Slimak said. “And we have a good offensive team.”

Might as well throw in a deep team too. Thirteen players are batting over .300. Several positions remain competitive and Slimak’s primary task is to give everyone ample opportunity to contribute.

Maldonado shares time with Joseph Jauregui (.277, eight stolen bases), and shortstops Richard Hernandez (.327) and Ruben Torres (.360) alternate.

The outfield overflows with productive players. David Ballen, expected to play little, hits third in the lineup and is batting .382. Rauch splits center field with Donny Churchman (.339), and Eric Buben (.404) platoons in right with Rich Holmes (.372).

Catcher Tom McGee (.411, 12 home runs) and third baseman Mike Young (.358, 13 extra-base hits) are the only players who start every game at the same position.

“I do see some envy among players as far as playing time goes, but we all respect one another’s ability,” McGee said. “We are all playing with one goal in mind, so it’s not a problem.”

Those not in the lineup keep busy standing throughout the game and chattering nonstop. When Rauch singled to score Smith with the game’s first run in the fourth inning, the Kingsmen erupted.

They did the same when Marquez struck out Dustin Martin to strand two in the sixth, the 10th and 11th runners left on base by Chapman. And when Smith homered to right, Olden homered to center and Rauch homered to left, they rushed to the field as if they’d won the World Series.

A little practice never hurts.