Garman Not Focused on Softball Victory Mark

Cal State Fullerton’s Judi Garman isn’t giving much thought to the fact that she’s only three victories away from becoming the all-time leader among softball coaches at four-year colleges.

“That just means I’ve been around a long time,” Garman said. “That and I’ve had some outstanding athletes and assistant coaches through the years.”

Garman’s Titans open a new season at the Arizona State Classic, which runs Friday through Sunday. Three victories there would move Garman past former UCLA Coach Sharron Backus, who retired last year with 847.

But Garman says she’s focusing on getting several more victories--beyond the next three--this season. “I’m really excited about this team,” she said.

Garman was disappointed a year ago, when the Titans missed making the NCAA tournament field for the first time since she started the program 18 years ago. The Titans finished 29-26 and were 13-19 in the Big West Conference.

“This year, we won’t have 13 freshmen on the team like last year,” she said. “And we’re going to have a lot more depth. The competition has been so good that we’re still not certain what the lineup is going to be in the first game.”

Garman said when she and assistants Michelle Gromacki and Susie Para discussed the designated hitter position, each recommended a different player.

“But the most depth is on the mound,” Garman said. “And that’s the name of the game in softball.”

Jana Oetgen (16-13, 2.33 earned-run average) and Donna Coombes (11-11, 3.31) return and two freshmen, Kati Franck and Chrissy Hartmann, are expected to bolster the staff. Coombes is the team’s only senior.

Other key returning players are outfielders Rachel Olvera and Wendi Griffin, catcher Dara Marzolo and second baseman Nikki Hart. Garman also expects shortstop Christa Saindon and first baseman Stacy Pierson, both community college transfers, to strengthen the team.

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The bullpen and batting cages at Titan Field have a football look to them . . . and it’s right out of Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

When Rod Bond, Titan sports complex manager, was preparing to replace the worn indoor/outdoor carpet, he asked an artificial turf company about any good buys.

Bond learned that the artificial turf at Three Rivers was being replaced, and he worked out a deal for a remnant. The strip Fullerton received came with NFL logo and the “Steelers” lettering from the end zone.

“They told us we should be able to wash out the lettering, but it was heavily painted and we couldn’t get it out,” Bond said.

But the price was right. “We only paid around $1,000 for it, and that was a good deal,” Bond said.

So the NFL logo in the Titan bullpen is apparently there to stay. “It’s made us all Steeler fans,” Titan Coach George Horton said, jokingly.

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The fact that outfielder Greg Jacobs is wearing former Titan outfielder Mark Kotsay’s No. 7 uniform number this season raised the question about whether Fullerton considered retiring it.

Kotsay was amateur baseball’s player of the year in 1995 when the Titans won the College World Series.

“We thought about whether to give it out, but Jacobs wanted the number, so we gave it to him,” Horton said. “That doesn’t mean it won’t be retired at some point. We haven’t worked out a firm policy yet on retiring numbers. But we definitely want to do something to honor Mark as well as some of the other top players. We’re thinking about something on the outfield wall.”

Fullerton has retired Tim Wallach’s number, but not Phil Nevin’s. Wallach won the Golden Spikes award as player of the year in 1979, and Nevin won it in 1992.

Notes

Megan Sabo, an outside hitter at Mater Dei, has committed to play women’s volleyball at Fullerton, said George Carey, director at Saddleback Volleyball Club. Sabo was a first-team All-South Coast League selection. . . . Julie Giambi, a sister of baseball players Jeremy and Jason Giambi, is a freshman on the Titan softball team this season. She’s listed on the roster as a utility player and pitcher. Jeremy helped lead the Titans to the 1995 College World Series title. Jason, who played at Long Beach State, is a regular with the Oakland A’s. . . . The Titan basketball team is shooting only 38% from the field in its last six games. The Titans shot 30.6% in its victory at UCI and a season-low 29.1% while losing at Utah State last Saturday.

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Coming Attractions

Key events this week for Cal State Fullerton:

* Men’s basketball against Nevada 7 p.m. Thursday, and against UC Irvine 7 p.m. Saturday, both at Titan Gym.

* Women’s basketball, at Nevada 7 p.m. Friday, and against UC Irvine 2 p.m. Sunday, Titan Gym.

* Women’s tennis, against Southern Utah 1 p.m. Sunday, Titan tennis courts.

* Softball, at Arizona State tournament, Friday through Sunday.

* Baseball, at Fresno State 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.