Batesole Leads Matadors Out of Troubled Water

Even in January, when players shiver and puddles linger in the infield, the dawning of baseball season is greeted with optimism and promise.

Especially this season at Cal State Northridge, where the basepaths are submerged but the program is afloat.

The Matadors, in fact, haven’t enjoyed such solid footing in years--which might help to explain the enthusiastic effort the team displayed while tending to its waterlogged diamond one recent morning.

That gave Coach Mike Batesole a chance to take five and talk baseball.

For the last 2 1/2 years, Batesole has labored to repair damage done by an ill-advised administrative decision to cut the program along with three other sports.

Although public backlash led to the four sports being reinstated two months later, players had transferred and recruits wouldn’t touch Northridge with a 10-foot aluminum bat.

Those who have signed with Northridge haven’t made hasty decisions.

“A lot of people talked about it and I talked to a lot of people about coming here,” said Bill Murphy, a freshman left-hander from Arlington High. “I really didn’t worry about it. I knew Coach Batesole was a good coach.”

After two seasons of playing catch-up, Northridge’s stable of talented young players is beginning to fill. Another season will further the program’s progress, as will the move next season to the Big West Conference.

Northridge has competed as an independent since leaving the Western Athletic Conference in 1996.

“As hard as it was the last couple of years, I really appreciate coming to work now,” Batesole said. “The whole atmosphere of the program has turned. Now, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, we can see where we’re going.

“We’ve got two solid recruiting classes in here. Two is a whole lot more than zero and a whole lot more than one. It’s not four or five or six, but it gives us a base and a future. It doesn’t, necessarily, give us a real bright present.”

Batesole, his optimism tempered by reality, expects the young team to “take some lumps.”

Only five seniors are on the roster, and underclassmen will dominate every lineup. Experience is lacking but talent is not.

“These freshmen and sophomores are terrific,” Batesole said. “We’re going to start seven to nine of them on any given day.”

Pitching is the most improved area of the team.

Sophomore right-hander Mike Frick, who starts Friday in the opener against Nevada, enters as the staff ace. Frick, from Buena High, was 3-0 with three saves in 50 2/3 innings last season. He allowed only four earned runs in his final 10 appearances.

Junior Ryan McDermott, a transfer from Santa Ana College, is the No. 2 starter.

Murphy and freshman right-hander Kameron Loe have impressed early and will compete for the No. 3 starting job. Murphy led Arlington to a Southern Section title last season. Loe, who stands 6 feet 7, was 10-1 with 11 complete games for Granada Hills.

Ivan Hernandez, a freshman right-hander from Sylmar High, gained his eligibility Tuesday from the NCAA.

“I’ve got nine guys I can trust [pitching],” Batesole. “When I give them the ball, I know what I’m going to get.”

Murphy and freshman Tim Coltey from Long Beach Millikan are projected to start in the outfield. Senior Jason Watkins, who batted .292 last season, returns in center field.

Three sophomore starters return in the infield--first baseman Tim Arroyo, shortstop J.T. Stotts and third baseman Jason Gorman.

Stotts, despite playing only 25 games because of a broken foot, batted .400 and had 11 stolen bases.

Arroyo batted .328 with 30 runs batted in.

Eric Horvat and Bobby Koba are battling for the second base job. Jason Allec and Brandon Thompson will split time at catcher.