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Northridge: The team that wasn’t.

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Here’s a look at the potential baseball team Matador Coach Mike Batesole believes could have made the College World Series if the University hadn’t temporarily cut the sport last summer:

PITCHERS

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Pos. Name Yr. School Record ERA IP HA LHP Benny Flores Sr. Cal State Fullerton 12-0 3.52 122.2 120

Pos. BB SO LHP 34 100

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All-Big West pick transferred after three seasons at CSUN.

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Pos. Name Yr. School Record ERA IP HA LHP Erasmo Ramirez Sr. CS Fullerton 11-5 3.66 130.1 133 28

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Pos. BB SO LHP 112

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Another all-Big West pick who transferred after three seasons at CSUN.

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Pos. Name Yr. School Record ERA IP HA BB SO RHP David Walling So. Arkansas 10-4 4.60 103.1 96 25 128

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Followed CSUN pitching coach Tim Montez to Arkansas, where he was 2nd-team All-American.

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Pos. Name Yr. School Record ERA IP HA BB RHP Mike Schultz Fr. Loyola Marymount 9-2 5.11 105.2 109 47

Pos. SO RHP 104

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West Coast Conf. pitcher of year was set to commit to CSUN when program folded.

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Pos. Name Yr. School Record ERA IP HA BB SO RHP Matt Rainer Fr. Nevada 3-1 5.97 75.1 94 43 58

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CSUN recruit from Royal High became Nevada’s top pitcher in second half of season.

Position: LHP Name: Darren MurphY

Walling’s teammate at Grossmont JC in 1997, the 6-4 left-hander committed with CSUN but signed with Baltimore Orioles when Matadors dropped baseball.

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Pos. Name Yr. School Record ERA IP HA BB SO LHP Jose Vasquez, Jr. CSUN 10-5 3.84 91.1 96 55 72.

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Unheralded left-hander developed into Matadors’ stopper.

HITTERS

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG C Brian Wagner Sr. Southern Miss. 160 43 5 26 .269

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Starting catcher led Conference USA with .979 fielding percentage.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG C Jeremy Sickles So. CSUN 173 52 3 36 .301

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Steady catcher stuck with Matadors and had .985 fielding percentage.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG 1B Adrian Mendoza So. CSUN 189 55 12 41 .291

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Slick-fielding loyal Matador improved on freshman numbers.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG 2B Nakia Hill Jr. CSUN 232 96 15 41 .414

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Disgruntled at Fullerton, he was bound for CSUN even if the program had never been cut.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG SS Marco Estrada Jr. Northridge 182 49 2 21 .269

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Another Fullerton refugee developed into a steady performer.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG SS Nick Garcia Fr. Fresno St. 98 20 1 17 .204

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Gifted defensively, Garcia struggled at the plate and platooned for Bulldogs.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG 3B John Wilson Fr. Kentucky 171 56 9 33 .327

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Former L.A. Baptist star who redshirted at CSUN in ’97 overcame bullet wounds to become freshman All-American.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG OF Terrmel Sledge So. Long Beach St. 269 105 12 62 .390

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MVP of Western Regional has scored 95 runs and is key member of 49ers World Series team.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG OF Eric Horvat Fr. CSUN 172 52 12 44 .302

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Only freshman recruit to stick it out at CSUN enjoyed a strong season.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG OF Chris MacMillan Sr. CSUN 205 57 12 50 .278

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Converted third baseman stayed at CSUN and led team in RBIs.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG OF Mike McNeely Sr. CSUN 180 60 10 49 .333

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Seldom-used as a junior, McNeely became indispensable as center fielder.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG OF Brandon Martin Fr. Hawaii 54 16 2 12 .296

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Top Northridge recruit transferred and produced at Hawaii after slow start.

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Pos. Name Yr. School AB H HR RBIs AVG DH Casey Cheshier Jr. San Jose St. 204 70 8 61 .343

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Transferred after two seasons at CSUN and led San Jose in RBIs.

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