USC Still Has Strong Pitching in a Sport That’s Trying to Silence the Bats

USC went 20 years between NCAA baseball titles, winning the 1998 College World Series for its record 12th national championship.

The Trojans aren’t expected to wait too long to win No. 13.

Baseball America magazine and several other publications have ranked the Trojans No. 1 in their preseason polls; Collegiate Baseball has picked Wichita State on top.

“We have a good mix of experience and young talent,” said Trojan catcher Eric Munson, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior projected as the possible overall No. 1 pick in the amateur draft. “We have a solid group of position players and more quality pitchers, guys with some good arms that have a chance to have some pretty good years.”

USC and the other seven Division I teams in the Southland are ready to come out swinging for the title. They’re just not sure what kind of bats they should take to the plate.

In January, the NCAA announced new bat standards that are aimed at curbing the offensive explosion in college baseball. Last year, Division I teams hit .306, scored 7.12 runs a game and had a 6.12 earned-run average, all NCAA records. The season was punctuated by USC’s 21-14 victory over Arizona State in the College World Series championship game, an almost embarrassing slugfest that took 3 hours 59 minutes to complete.

The new standards reduce the diameter of a bat’s barrel from 2 3/4 inches to 2 5/8. The length-to-weight differential also has been reduced. Last year, players could swing bats that measured 34 inches and weighed 29 ounces, a differential of five. This season, a 34-inch bat must weigh at least 31 ounces, a differential of three.

Coaches say they have no problem with the change, but they are frustrated by the time it is taking some bat manufacturers to supply conferences with indemnity clauses for their use. Until the conferences receive the indemnity clauses, teams are forbidden from using the new bats.

UCLA opened its season in Hawaii last week and was forced to use wooden bats. Pepperdine did the same against Nevada this past weekend. UC Santa Barbara and Northridge used aluminum when they played.

Meanwhile, USC and Long Beach State are still up in the air about what kind of bats they will be using in their openers this week.

“We just want to know what we’re swinging so we can go out and compete against teams with the same bat,” Long Beach Coach Dave Snow said.

The confusion over the bats is expected to be settled well before the start of the playoffs, which have been expanded from 48 to 64 teams. All 29 Division I conferences will have automatic berths and 35 at-large entries will be determined by won-loss record and the Rating Percentage Index (RPI), which measures strength of schedule.

In the past, eight six-team, double-elimination regionals determined the eight participants in the College World Series.

The expanded playoff format includes: 16 four-team, double-elimination regionals; eight two-team, best-of-three super regionals; and the eight-team College World Series that will be played June 11-19 in Omaha.

Here is a look at each of the eight Southland teams:

USC

* Coach: Mike Gillespie, 13th season.

* 1998 finish: 49-17, 21-9 in Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division.

* Top players: Junior catcher Eric Munson (.392, 16 homers, 56 RBIs); senior outfielder Brad Ticehurst (.302, 18 homers); sophomore right-hander Rik Currier (6-1, 5.30); senior pitcher/utility player Jason Lane (9-2, 5.34/.332, 14 homers).

* Outlook: The Trojans lost staff ace Seth Etherton, the Angels’ No. 1 draft pick, and closer Jack Krawczyk, who had 23 saves, but pitching will be USC’s strength. Currier struck out 100 in 71 1/3 innings as a freshman. Senior right-hander Steve Immel won five games last season. The staff also features three transfers: junior left-hander Barry Zito (Pierce College); sophomore left-hander Steve Smyth (Cypress College) and senior right-hander Justin Lehr (UC Santa Barbara). USC has had some early injury problems, but the blend of talent and experience makes the Trojans a threat to repeat as national champion.

UCLA

* Coach: Gary Adams, 25th season.

* 1998 finish: 24-33, 11-19 in Pacific 10 Southern Division.

* Top players: Sophomore first baseman Garrett Atkins (.389, nine home runs, 54 RBIs); sophomore second baseman Chad Utley (.320, 15 homers); senior catcher Jason Greene (.333).

* Outlook: After advancing to the College World Series in 1997, a very young Bruin team struggled last season. UCLA still might be a year away from returning to Omaha, but there is enough talent to contend for a playoff spot. Atkins, a freshman All-American who had a school-record 33-game hitting streak last season, and Utley key the offense. The pitching staff is anchored by sophomore left-hander Bobby Roe (4-2, 5.23 ERA), a starter this season after registering seven saves last season. Sophomore left-hander Ryan Carter and sophomore right-hander Chad Cislak also will be in the rotation. Freshman right-hander Josh Carp turned down $2 million from the Atlanta Braves to become a Bruin.

LONG BEACH STATE

* Coach: Dave Snow, 11th season.

* 1998 finish: 43-23-1, 23-7 in Big West Conference.

* Top players: Senior outfielder Termel Sledge (.392, 13 homers, 26 steals); senior outfielder Chuck Lopez (.422, 52 RBIs), sophomore catcher Bryan Kennedy (81 RBIs); senior left-hander Mike Gallo (6-2, 3.41).

* Outlook: The 49ers finished third at the College World Series last year and have enough talent and experience to take the next step and play for the title. But Long Beach suffered a major blow when senior outfielder Chuck Lopez (.422, 52 RBIs) was forced to redshirt after elbow surgery. Gallo and junior right-hander Jeremy Ward, a transfer from Wake Forest, give the 49ers two solid starters. Sophomore Jason Berni, freshman right-hander Matt Paz and senior right-hander Dan Thomas also are expected to contribute.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

* Coach: George Horton, third season.

* 1998 finish: 47-17, 25-5 in Big West.

* Top players: Senior third baseman Ryan Moore (.336, 14 homers, 56 RBIs); sophomore second baseman David Bacani (.317); junior shortstop Ryan Owens; sophomore right-hander Adam Johnson (eight saves).

* Outlook: The Titans do not have a dominating pitcher or position player, but they are still regarded as a contender for their 10th College World Series appearance. Owens made 27 errors last season but had a solid summer playing for Team USA. Junior outfielder Spencer Oborn transferred from Brigham Young and sophomore outfielder Rod Perry Jr. transferred from USC. Johnson (eight saves) moves into a rotation that might include sophomore left-hander Jon Smith and sophomore right-hander Jordan DeJong. Sophomore right-hander Kirk Saarloos is the closer.

UC SANTA BARBARA

* Coach: Bob Brontsema, sixth season.

* 1998 finish: 18-31-2, 11-18 in Big West.

* Top players: Senior right fielder Brad Wright (.345); senior first baseman Bryan Lacour (.359, 51 RBIs); junior left-hander Troy Kinto (5-4, 5.77).

* Outlook: The Gauchos have not finished above .500 since 1996 when they were second in the Big West and made the playoffs. It won’t get any easier for Santa Barbara with Long Beach and Fullerton expected to make a run at the College World Series. The Gauchos had a 7.18 ERA last season, so improved pitching is a must if they hope to contend. Sophomore right-hander Bing Cain and junior right-hander Gabe Neboyia, a transfer from College of the Seqouias, join Kinto in the rotation. Junior catcher Bill Duplissa, a transfer from San Mateo College, is a top newcomer.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

* Coach: Frank Cruz, third season.

* 1998 finish: 34-23-1, 21-8 in West Coast Conference.

* Top players: Sophomore right-hander Mike Schultz (9-2, 5.11 ERA); sophomore catcher Scott Walter(.383, 67 RBIs); junior second baseman Anthony Angel (.311, team-high 10 homers).

* Outlook: After going 21-39 in his first season, Cruz led the Lions to their first conference championship since 1990. Loyola hit .328 and averaged a school-record 9.34 runs a game. This season, Loyola’s success hinges on pitching. Schultz beat Stanford in last season’s playoff opener and he anchors a young but experienced staff. Schultz, Brian Felten, Bill Traber and Chris Gray, all sophomores, accounted for 24 of the Lions’ victories last season. The Lions must also find a way to replace the leadership and steady play of center fielder Chad Ohira and shortstop Kevin Hook. WCC coaches picked the Lions to repeat as champion.

PEPPERDINE

* Coach: Frank Sanchez, third season.

* 1998 finish: 32-22, 21-9 in WCC.

* Top players: Senior right-hander Brad Tucker (8-1, 3.48); senior third baseman G.J. Raymundo (.345, 13 homers, 45 RBIs), sophomore catcher Dane Sardinha (13 homers, 38 RBIs).

* Outlook: Last year, Pepperdine finished a half-game behind Loyola, which played one less game in the WCC because of a rainout. The Waves have reason to be optimistic this season, especially with Sanchez back in the dugout after undergoing brain surgery during the off-season. Raymundo and Sardinha are the top position players for a team that also features sophomore first baseman Jared Pitney (48 RBIs), junior second baseman Damon Katz and freshman shortstop Tony Garcia. Jay Gehrke, a 6-foot-6 junior right-hander, transferred to Pepperdine from Arizona State.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

* Coach: Mike Batesole, fourth season.

* 1998 finish: 37-19.

* Top players: Senior second baseman Kevin Patrick (.359, 44 RBIs); sophomore third baseman Eric Horvat (.302, 12 homers, 44 RBIs; senior left-hander Jose Vasquez (10-5, 3.84); junior right-hander Tim Bell (4-0, 5.05).

* Outlook: No local team figures to benefit more from the expanded playoff format than Northridge, an independent team that went 79-39-1 over the last two seasons but was not invited to the postseason primarily because of its lack of a conference affiliation. Junior catcher Jeremy Sickles and junior first baseman Adrian Mendoza are back from a team that won 25 of its last 27 games. Top newcomers include freshman shortstop J.T. Stotts and junior left-hander Daryl Grant, a transfer from Long Beach State who also will play left field and designated hitter.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Preseason Poll

BASEBALL AMERICA

No. School1998

1. USC 49-17

2. Long Beach State 43-23-1

3. Miami 51-12

4. Florida State 53-20

5. Wichita State 56-7

6. Rice 46-17

7. Stanford 42-14-1

8. Louisiana State 48-19

9. Georgia Tech 41-22

10. Florida 46-18

11. Texas A&M; 46-20

12. Arizona State 41-23

13. Alabama 46-18

14. Cal State Fullerton 47-17

15. Clemson 43-16

16. North Carolina 42-23

17. Wake Forest 43-23

18. Auburn 46-18

19. Texas Tech 44-20

20. Washington 41-17

21. Oklahoma State 40-21-1

22. Arkansas 38-21

23. California 22-32

24. Houston 34-25

25. South Carolina 44-18