Titan Baseball Staff Relieved as Recruits Report for Duty

The new semester began Monday at Cal State Fullerton, and it turned out to be a good day for the Titan baseball coaches.

They had been holding their breath over the status of several recruits, but only one signed a professional contract during the summer. Dave Giorgis of Rancho Bernardo High signed with the San Diego Padres, who drafted him in the eighth round.

Pitchers Kirk Saarloos, Jon Smith and Mike Nunez, second baseman David Bacani, first baseman Aaron Rifkin and outfielder Matt Belfanti--eligible to sign after their junior seasons--will return for their senior years.

“One of the challenges you face each year in recruiting is getting guys who are good prospects, but also getting guys you expect to be on campus in the fall,” Titan Coach George Horton said. “It looks as though we did a good job of predicting that this year.”

Horton said major league scouts showed increased interest in two incoming high school pitchers, Wes Littleton of Vista High and Chad Cordero of Chino Don Lugo, during the summer. “Those two, along with Saarloos, were mainly the ones we started having to worry about,” Horton said.

Saarloos had a 3-0 record and 0.34 earned-run average as the closer for the U.S. national team during the summer. He gave up only 10 hits and two runs--one earned--in 26 2/3 innings. Saarloos struck out 35 and walked seven, earning four saves.

Horton said Saarloos might move from closer to starter next season. He was 7-5 with a 2.32 ERA and eight saves last season.

“We just know we have a great pitcher who can be a wild card for us,” Horton said. “A lot will depend on how the new pitchers develop, but we could use Kirk as the closer on Friday and the starter on Sunday the way we did with Ted Silva a few years ago.”

Smith, the only returning weekend starter, took the summer off to rest his arm. He was 9-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 15 starts last season. Horton said Rifkin and Bacani had good summers playing in the Great Lakes summer collegiate league in Ohio. Rifkin batted .363 with 10 homers, Horton said.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Fullerton and UC Irvine have women’s soccer openers this week.

Fullerton plays Nevada Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Friday at Titan Stadium. Irvine hosts USC at 1 p.m. Sunday.

It’s the official season opener for USC, ranked No. 17 in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America, although the Trojans swept four of the top teams in Belgium during a 10-day exhibition tour that ended Monday. Former Capistrano Valley High striker Megan Abbamonto scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over R.S. Vanderlecht.

Nine Irvine starters, including the top eight scorers, return from a team that was 6-10-4. They include forward Cyndi Tredway (six goals) and two sophomores, midfielder Janelle Doyle and forward Sara Henderson. Senior Allison Merrick and sophomore Sarah Swancutt return at goalkeeper.

Only eight of Fullerton’s 28 players return from last season, when the Titans were 6-12-2 and 2-5-2 in the Big West. Thirteen of the 20 newcomers are freshmen.

Sophomore Leah Sims is the leading returning goal scorer. She had six goals and two assists in 20 starts last season.

ANDERSON VISITS

Rodney Anderson, the Fullerton basketball player seriously wounded in a random shooting in Los Angeles before the Titans’ final game last season, attended the reception and orientation for athletes before the start of the new school year Sunday in Titan Gym. He was accompanied by his mother, Martha.

“He was smiling, and in good spirits,” Titan Coach Donny Daniels said. “He was happy to see all the guys, and they were happy to see him.”

Anderson, who is in a wheelchair, is undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation for injuries he suffered in the shooting near his parents’ home about six months ago.

The proceeds from Fullerton’s opening game this season against Simon Fraser Nov. 8 will go to the Rodney Anderson Medical Assistance Fund, according to Jeff Cova, director of athletic development at Fullerton.

“He wants to return to school, hopefully by the spring semester,” Cova said.

NOTEWORTHY

Fullerton senior Ray Ramirez received honorable mention recognition on the College Soccer On-Line preseason All-American team. . . . Eric Edmunds, a 6-foot-7 All-Sunset League post player at Fountain Valley High who played at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo last season, has committed to play for the men’s basketball team at Concordia, according to his father, Peter V. Edmunds.

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Staff writer Paul McLeod contributed to this report.

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