Power Failure Meant Lights Out for Titans

Cal State Fullerton’s bid for a second consecutive trip to the College World Series ended with its NCAA regional loss to USC, but the team’s inconsistency and lack of firepower through the regular season had raised doubt about the Titans’ chances.

“It’s hard to repeat great years,” Titan Coach George Horton said Monday, one day after the defeat. “We had a good year, but not a great one. We just didn’t get it done all year when it mattered the most.”

The pitching was adequate, but the Titans didn’t approach the strength of the 1999 team on offense.

The Titans, ranked No. 2 nationally before the season began, weren’t able to replace the run production that Ryan Owens, Spencer Oborn and Reed Johnson brought to the lineup in 1999. Those three players, who signed pro contracts after last season, had a combined 50 home runs and averaged 75 runs batted in.

This season Fullerton hit only 44 homers, and no player drove in more than 48 runs. The Titans played five fewer games, and the power in the bats was reduced, but Fullerton had only three more homers than its opponents. The year before, the Titans had 91 homers to 54 for the opposition.

“You’re not going to be blessed with the kinds of efforts like we had in 1999 every year,” Horton said. “But I’m disappointed that we didn’t live up to our physical expectations.

“We underachieved as a team, and when that happens, it’s the coaches’ fault. We pride ourselves in our player development, and now we have to see where we can improve and do things better.”

The Titans will lose senior outfielder Steve Woodward, who led the team with a .431 batting average, surpassing Mark Kotsay’s Titan season record of .422 in 1995. Outfielder Chris Beck, designated hitter Jake Epstein and senior catchers Jeff Gates and Craig Patterson also finished their college careers, but Horton hopes several draft-eligible juniors will return.

That group includes three-time Big West Conference all-star second baseman David Bacani, first baseman Aaron Rifkin and part-time outfielder-designated hitter Matt Belfanti.

Fullerton also will add shortstop Mike Rouse to the mix next season. Rouse had to sit out this season after transferring from San Jose State, where he batted .313 and had a team-high 13 stolen bases as a freshman. Horton expects Rouse to be a key player.

Fullerton’s pitching staff also figures to be affected by the major league draft.

Only All-American Adam Johnson, expected to be taken in the first round, appears certain to sign. Johnson, 7-4 with a 2.72 earned-run average, set school records for strikeouts in a career and season.

Juniors Jon Smith (9-3, 3.69 ERA), Ronnie Corona (5-3, 3.94), Kirk Saarloos (7-5, 2.32) and Matt Sorensen (5-0, 4.94) have indicated that they will consider their options, based on their prospects after the draft.

“I really don’t expect to go high in the draft,” said Smith, who has a 4.0 grade-point average in business and was Fullerton’s male scholar-athlete this year. “But I’m not setting my mind either way at this point. I would have no problem coming back for another season in college.”

Said Saarloos: “I have a figure in mind, and if I don’t get that, I wouldn’t hesitate to come back for another year.”

Pitching coach Dave Serrano said he thinks the Titans have a good chance of keeping Smith, Saarloos and Sorensen for their senior years.

Serrano said he was pleased with the promise exhibited by freshman Nick Lovato (1-0, 2.11). “Lovato’s rise at the end of the season is a real blessing for us,” Serrano said.

Serrano, who is in charge of recruiting, said he he thinks several Titan recruits will help next season if they don’t sign pro contracts. However, pitcher Darric Merrell of Temecula Valley High is expected to be drafted in the first four or five rounds.