Ace’s Elbow Is Key for Cal Lutheran

Several starters return from a Cal Lutheran baseball team that batted a school-record .350 and was among the Division III leaders in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category.

Also back is Coach Marty Slimak, who in five seasons is 151-63 with five regional appearances, four SCIAC championships and two World Series berths.

But the biggest key to Cal Lutheran’s continued fortunes lies in the right elbow of pitcher Erik Kiszczak.

The senior from Lake Havasu, Ariz., was 9-3 as a freshman, 10-4 as a sophomore and was praised by Division I coaches for his velocity and command. But he was limited to 12 innings last season after tearing a ligament in his elbow.

“Erik is throwing with good velocity, but we will take him slow,” Slimak said. “He should be ready for the home opener [Feb. 13]. Whether he will start or be our closer, I’m not sure.”

A healthy Kiszczak would give the Kingsmen a formidable pitching staff, which Slimak says is crucial to winning the SCIAC.

Already, the rotation consists of Adam Springston and Tom Canale, who combined to throw 173 of 378 innings last season. Springston, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior right-hander from Oxnard College and Simi Valley High, was 8-2 with an earned-run average of 3.66. Canale was 4-5 with a 4.63 ERA and had his best outings in the second half of the season.

Sophomore Brant Childers and newcomers David Gonzalez, a transfer from Long Beach City College, and Jarrod Hoagland, a transfer from Utah Valley State, also are highly regarded pitchers.

Strong pitching would almost guarantee Cal Lutheran of at least matching last season’s 28-15 record because of an abundance of dangerous hitters.

Brian Malchow, a senior right fielder, led the team with 65 hits, 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 118 total bases last season. Malchow, who is occasionally used as a closer, batted .396.

Eric Buben (.361) also returns in the outfield, and Raudel Flores (.320) moves from third base to center field. Nick Plancich, a transfer from Chapman, is challenging for playing time as well.

First baseman Brad Smith, sidelined last year because of a broken back, should return to the form he showed in 1997, when he set a school record with 22 doubles and batted .380.

Ryan Yoshiwara, a former Moorpark High player who batted a team-best .519 in limited action last season, will start at second base. Another part-time performer, Jeremy Schlosser, will start at third base and bat leadoff.

Chris Tahan, who batted .306 in 15 games, and Andy Super, a transfer from Ventura College, are battling at shortstop.

Eddie Romero, a junior who batted .311, and the seldom-used Joe King will platoon at catcher with Eric Medina, a 6-4, 202-pound transfer from Cerritos.

“We’ll hit again and we’ll field OK,” Slimak said. “I like the team.

“But it all comes down to the pitching. If Kiszczak is healthy and we get some pitching performances from the new kids on the block, we have a good chance of winning a lot of games.”