Top-Seeded Panthers Look Timid During Early Exit

One year after Chapman reached the NCAA Division III baseball finals, the Panthers made a quick exit from the playoffs, losing twice in two days at the West Regional in Abilene, Texas.

“It was almost like we were playing not to lose,” Chapman Coach Rex Peters said. “Playoff baseball is different from the regular season. All it takes is 48 hours of sub-par baseball and you’re going home.”

It was surprising, considering the Panthers (29-13) were top-seeded and were averaging eight runs per game heading into the regional. But Chapman was outscored, 14-5, in the regional.

Chapman batted .323 for the season, but only .219 in the two regional games.

“We had some chances, we just didn’t get the clutch hits when we needed them,” Peters said.

The pitching and defense weren’t any better.

Chapman ace Jeff Blitstein (12-4, 2.72 earned-run average) gave up 14 hits and seven earned runs in six innings in a 7-1 loss to Cal Lutheran. Rich Torres gave up five unearned runs as the Panthers committed three errors in a 7-4 loss to Southwestern (Texas).

“Good pitching and defense got us there, but just look at the numbers and you can tell we didn’t get that in Texas,” Peters said.

Although Peters was disappointed the Panthers couldn’t capitalize on their opportunity, he doesn’t think the season was a failure.

“This team overachieved,” Peters said.

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More baseball: Peters expects a strong recruiting class to bolster the Panther pitching staff for next season.

Fullerton College’s Bobby Sunderland, Golden West’s Adam Peters, and high school recruits Mike Molina (Calvary Chapel) and B.J. Bridges (Hesperia) should make immediate contributions.

They will join starters Blitstein, Torres (4-4, 4.25) and Clint Blevins (5-0, 3.26) to give the Panthers more depth.

“It could potentially be the best staff I’ve ever had here,” Peters said. “We’re excited about it.”

Chapman loses only three seniors--pitcher Jim Brewer (3-3, 5.22 ERA), first baseman Robert O’Brien (.366 batting average, nine home runs, 52 RBIs) and outfielder Luis Garcia (.363, eight, 30).

But the team’s leading hitter, Aaron Rifkin (.414, 10, 51) returns to lead the offense.

“Hopefully, we learned a hard lesson,” Peters said. “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the regular season. You have to prove it in a playoff environment and elevate your game.”

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Honors: Stephanie Carew was named an NCAA Division III softball first-team All-American last week in Salem, Va.

Carew hit .472 with 14 home runs and 46 runs batted in and was the only Panther selected to the All-American teams.

Jessamine Maiben, a three-time All-American who hit .376 with two homers and 34 RBIs for the Panthers (39-9), was not selected this season.

Catcher Jenni Bankus and Maiben were selected to the NCAA all-tournament team.

Bankus hit .526 in the tournament with a team-high 10 hits and Maiben hit .474 with three doubles and four RBIs in the six games.