Chapman Gets on Track at Last

Chapman baseball Coach Rex Peters figured pitching would be the Panthers’ strength this season.

Several strong-armed newcomers and a veteran pitching coach, Fred Hoover, seemed to assure that. But in the early going, the Panthers’ staff was wild, giving up nearly six walks a game. And the defense, which Peters also expected to be strong, wasn’t helping out.

It seemed as if the season might slip away. After an 18-17 loss to Azusa Pacific in early March, Chapman had lost four in a row to drop to 6-7.

Peters said it was a matter of the pitching staff getting accustomed to Hoover’s methods and his coaching scheme. “Once they got comfortable with that,” Peters said, “and learned to execute it, things have started to turn around.”

The defense has solidified as well and, not coincidentally, Chapman has won nine of its last 10 and 12 and its last 15. With the recovery, the Panthers (18-10) have moved into position to win their first NCAA Division III playoff berth.

Chapman is ranked 15th in the nation and second in the West Region. Cal Lutheran, with which Chapman split a two-game series this week, is ranked fifth in the nation and first in the West. If that order holds, Cal Lutheran will probably host Chapman in a five-game NCAA playoff series starting May 17.

Chapman’s pitching staff is led by Josh LaRocca, a junior transfer from Golden West College, where pitching coach Hoover last worked. LaRocca is 6-2 with a 1.91 earned-run average.

LaRocca, returning pitchers Justin Miner (3-3, 2.58 ERA) and Mark Mazon (3-1, 3.78) and Orange Coast transfer Jim Brewer (4-2, 4.44) get the bulk of the starts. Senior closer Cale Shepherd, who had 10 saves last season, has nearly recovered from a sore shoulder.

The staff ERA is 3.19. The Panthers rank seventh in Division III in that statistic in the latest NCAA release.

“With aluminum bats, that’s pretty dang good,” Peters said. “That’s a tribute not only to the athletes but what Fred Hoover has done with the guys.”

Chapman’s hitting also has been excellent lately, with team batting average of .330.

Dustin Martin and Shepherd, who also plays designated hitter, have been especially hot.

In three weeks, Martin, a junior center fielder from Golden West, has raised his batting average from .191 to .411, second on the team to Shepherd’s .426.

Martin has a 13-game hitting streak, during which he has hit .600 (33 for 55) and has 18 runs batted in. In one five-game stretch, he had at least three hits and was 18 for 23 (.783).

Shepherd, who leads the team with 31 RBIs, has a 15-game hitting streak.

“I’ve always thought this team could play this well,” Peters said. “We just didn’t do it early. I guess we are playing the best baseball at the best time of the year.”