Stotts Has Major Aspirations

You never know where you might spot the next major league shortstop. Sometimes it’s in the produce department of your local grocery store.

In South Yarmouth, Mass., last summer, J.T. Stotts was stacking cantaloupes and watermelons during the day and hitting line drives with wooden bats in the evening as an all-star shortstop in the Cape Cod League.

His summer success has put him in position to become Cal State Northridge’s best professional prospect since Adam Kennedy, a first-round draft pick in 1997.

“J.T. is a pure shortstop and that’s what makes him so valuable,” Coach Mike Batesole said. “There aren’t many like him.”

This week, under cloudless skies and heavenly temperatures, Northridge’s baseball team began six weeks of practice before opening the season Jan. 25 against Washington State.

While snow, rain and freezing temperatures strike the Midwest and East, the weather is so pleasant in Southern California that Northridge practiced eight hours without a break Tuesday and no one complained.

Could Stotts do this every day for the rest of his life?

“I’m planning on it,” he said.

He has gained 25 pounds since graduating from Hart High in 1998. He’s 5 feet 11, 185 pounds, with thick, sturdy arms from lifting weights.

He was a two-time Foothill League player of the year in basketball, a point guard so elusive and steady that admiring coaches wished he were on their teams.

Once he dropped basketball to focus on baseball, his hitting improved. As a sophomore last season, he batted .315 with 14 doubles and led the Matadors with 23 steals in 27 attempts.

All signs point toward a breakthrough junior season.

“We’ve had a lot of guys make the jump from good to great player in a year’s time,” Batesole said. “I think he can do that and will do that.”

What Stotts accomplished in Cape Cod provides a hint of his potential. Playing in a league filled with top college players, Stotts batted .280 and was chosen to the All-Star game. Most importantly, he convinced himself and others that he deserved to be mentioned among the nation’s top shortstops.

“I think I had a lot to prove to myself how good I was and see how I matched up against other top players,” he said. “Having the confidence and knowing I could compete made it that much easier.”

As a fielder, Stotts has few peers. His strong arm and exceptional range make him a pitcher’s best friend. And his hitting is on the rise, too.

“In these last three years, I learned how to hit,” he said. “It comes with confidence and working on your swing and attacking the ball. That’s my main thing. I’m not going up there passive.”

Stotts was part of Batesole’s first recruiting class after Northridge’s baseball program was briefly eliminated in the summer of 1997. He took a risk joining a program that started over almost from scratch.

For someone who hates to lose, Stotts was forced to endure consecutive seasons of 27-29 and 23-33 while Batesole rebuilt the team with talented young players.

“We know what it put us through and I definitely don’t want to go through it again,” Stotts said. “We don’t want to lose again like we did the last few years. It’s not fun.”

The dedication of Stotts and others could pay off this season. Northridge rejoins the Big West Conference with a team capable of challenging national powers Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State.

The Matadors will have three left-handers in their starting rotation--Florida transfer Craig Mosher, sophomore Bill Murphy and junior Andy Davidson. Right-hander Mike Frick, who had a 2.35 earned-run average in the Cape Cod League, has been moved to closer.

“The way we’ve been practicing and playing, I know we can do it,” Stotts said. “I think we’re going to be pretty good.”

Stotts faces a crucial year for his professional aspirations. He was not drafted out of high school, but he has used his college years to become the standout player his former coach at Hart, Bud Murray, envisioned.

“I knew in time, I’d get bigger and stronger,” Stotts said. “And I knew with my work ethic, there would be no problem.”

Someday, Stotts will look back on his summer in Cape Cod as a time that put him on the path to baseball success.

“I don’t need to fear anybody,” he said. “I had that mentality before, but [Cape Cod] kind of reassured me that I really can compete.”

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Freshman catcher John Voita, an all-leaguer from Granada Hills, will undergo shoulder surgery in January and could be lost to Northridge for three months. . . .

Former Camarillo catcher Shane Miranda is battling for a starting spot at UCLA. . . .

How talented is El Camino Real’s unbeaten boys’ soccer team? Sophomore Jeremy Wang and junior Derek Hanks are reserves but could start for most schools. Wang scored two goals last week against Santa Paula. . . .

The East-West All-Star football game is set for June 3 at 5 p.m. at Birmingham High. The California-Florida All-Star game will be played June 23 at Santa Barbara City College.

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Eric Sondheimer’s column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.