Southland Programs Again a Cut Above the Rest

College baseball coaches across the nation fretted for the future of their sport a few years ago when universities were dropping or threatening to kill programs because of budget cuts and gender equity issues.

But as the 2001 season begins, Division I college baseball in the Southland is enjoying an expansion.

UC Riverside has moved up to Division I and UC Irvine will field a team in 2002 after dropping the sport in 1992. Cal State Northridge, temporarily on its deathbed a few years ago and wallowing as an independent, is now a member of the Big West Conference.

“Southern California has always been one of, if not the, best areas in the country for college baseball,” USC Coach Mike Gillespie said. “With Riverside moving up and Irvine coming back, I don’t think there’s any question about its status as the best.”

USC, Cal State Fullerton, Pepperdine and Long Beach State open the season ranked in the top 25 by Baseball America magazine. USC’s Mark Prior and UCLA’s Josh Karp are regarded as the top two major league pitching prospects in the nation.

Here is a look at each Division I team in the Southland:

USC

2000 record: 44-20.

The Trojans, ranked No. 2 behind Georgia Tech by Baseball America, advanced to the College World Series last season and could make their third appearance in Omaha in four seasons if their pitching staff performs as well as expected.

Prior, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound junior right-hander, was 10-7 with a 3.56 earned-run average last season and positioned himself to possibly be the first player selected in the draft with his performance for the U.S. national team during the summer. Sophomore Anthony Reyes (6-6, 4.02) also pitched for the national team and is projected as a first-round draft pick in 2002. Senior Rik Currier (15-3, 3.31) was the Pacific 10 Conference’s pitcher of the year in 2000.

Sophomore Chad Clark (1-0, 9.72) and freshman Frazier Dizard could also play key roles for a team that lost catcher Beau Craig and third baseman Justin Gemoll.

Senior shortstop Seth Davidson (.305, 26 stolen bases), sophomore second baseman Anthony Lunetta (.343), senior first baseman Josh Persell (.351), sophomore catcher Alberto Concepcion (.299) and freshman infielder Michael Moon are key position players.

UCLA

2000 record: 38-26.

Like the state of California, Coach Gary Adams’ team is suffering from a power shortage. At least, that’s the way it looks on paper because the Bruins lost four players who combined to hit 83 homers last season when UCLA tied Stanford and Arizona State for the Pac-10 title.

“We’re going to have to play it a little bit differently than we have in the past,” Adams said. “I’m not going to say it will be ‘small ball.’ But it’s not going to be ‘home run ball,’ that’s for sure.”

Karp (10-2, 5.06), senior Jon Brandt (7-5, 4.03) and senior left-hander Bobby Roe (7-5, 5.44) anchor the pitching staff.

Third baseman Randall Shelley (.294) is a returning starter. Catcher Josh Arhart, a transfer from Saddleback College, and freshman right-hander Mike Davern are among the newcomers.

PEPPERDINE

2000 record: 36-23.

The Waves, ranked 18th, feature an experienced and talented pitching staff that includes senior Jay Adams (5-4, 3.27), junior Daniel Haren (8-5, 3.08) and junior Noah Lowry (6-2, 4.47).

Pepperdine lost catcher Dane Sardinha, but gained Rock Mills, a transfer from Alabama, to help fill the void.

Junior second baseman Danny Garcia (.338), junior outfielder Woody Cliffords (.346) and third baseman Duke Sardinha (nine homers) give the Waves a solid nucleus as they prepare to battle three-time defending champion Loyola Marymount and others for the West Coast Conference title.

LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

2000 record: 40-19.

The Lions must overcome the loss of pitcher Billy Traber, a first-round draft pick, pitcher Michael Shultz, a second-round pick, and catcher Scott Walter, who was drafted in the third round. Also gone is infielder Anthony Angel, the heart and soul of last year’s team that advanced to a West regional at Fullerton.

Junior first baseman Kris Zacuto (.350) and senior third baseman Tommy Perez (.306) are top returning players.

Freshman catcher John Higashi, freshman pitcher Vince Cordova and pitcher Matt Gruber, a transfer from Iowa, are top newcomers.

CAL STATE FULLERTON

2000 record: 38-19.

The Titans, ranked 15th, hosted a regional for the first time last season and are favored to repeat as Big West Conference champions.

Seniors Jon Smith (9-3, 3.69) and versatile Kirk Saarloos (7-5, 2.32) anchor a pitching staff that features several talented freshmen, including Wes Littleton.

Senior second baseman David Bacani (.358, 25 stolen bases), junior outfielder Chris Stringfellow (.351) and sophomore shortstop Mike Martinez are top returning position players.

LONG BEACH STATE

2000 record: 31-25.

The 49ers, ranked 22nd, are expected to rebound strongly from last season’s second-half fade and challenge Fullerton for the Big West title.

Junior shortstop Bobby Crosby (.348, 10 homers) is a preseason All-American. Junior outfielder Chris Wright (.314) and designated hitter Jeff Jones (.369) also return. Freshman first baseman Mike Hofius and JC transfers Edgar Varela and Kaulana Kuhaulua are top newcomers.

Senior catcher Bryan Kennedy will handle a staff that features junior Matt Paz (8-5, 4.71), senior Jason Berni (5-3, 3.97) and sophomore Chad Bentz (0-2, 8.59).

UC SANTA BARBARA

2000 record: 28-25.

The Gauchos went 18-12 and finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Big West last season despite the absence of two of their best players--Rylie Ogle and Jared Schumaker--because of injuries.

Ogle, a left-hander, is the top starter and Schumaker will play center field and be the closer.

Third baseman Dave Molidor (.378), shortstop Jeff Bannon (11 homers) and second baseman Chad Peshke (.333)--all seniors--provide experience.

Sophomore Jim Bullard (3-3, 3.98) and junior Jeremy Sugarman (2-6, 6.52) will join Ogle in the rotation.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

2000 record: 23-33.

A program that was dropped for two months in 1997 and has been struggling to regain its footing since is now a full-fledged member of the Big West.

The Matadors, who played the last four seasons as an independent, are buoyed by several transfers, including outfielder Eric Verbryke from USC and third baseman Robert Smith from Oklahoma State.

Junior first baseman Tim Arroyo (.346) and junior shortstop J.T. Stotts (.315) are key returning players.

UC RIVERSIDE

2000 record: 30-23.

The Highlanders, under longtime Coach Jack Smitheran, are playing a full Big West schedule but will not be eligible to compete for the championship until 2002.

Sophomore catcher Jimmy Anderson (.328), senior third baseman Matt Teahen (.354) and sophomore second baseman Randy Blood (.330) are key returning players. Chris Smith, a transfer from Kansas, will play first base and pitch in relief.

Senior left-hander George Carralejo and sophomore right-hander Julio Fernandez are expected to lead the pitching staff.

UC IRVINE

2000 record: None.

The Anteaters will not play their first game until Jan. 25, 2002, but Coach John Savage, a former assistant at Nevada and USC, signed 11 high school and seven junior college players, including two of the top JC players in California--left-hander Kurt Birkins of Pierce College and shortstop Steve Guthrie of Palomar College.

Savage and his staff will be a noticeable presence at Southland games throughout the 2001 season, scouting opponents as Irvine prepares to compete in the Big West.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Preseason Polls / Division I

Rankings by Baseball America, including last year’s record:

1. Georgia Tech: 50-16

2. USC: 44-20

3. Louisiana State: 52-17

4. Miami: 41-19

5. Nebraska: 51-17

6. Arizona State: 44-15

7. Florida State: 53-19

8. South Carolina: 56-10

9. Notre Dame: 46-18

10. Clemson: 51-18

11. Auburn: 41-20

12. Rice: 43-23

13. Florida: 43-23

14. Stanford: 50-16

15. CS Fullerton: 38-21

16. Georgia: 32-26

17. Central Florida: 43-19

18. Pepperdine: 36-23

19. Tulane: 38-22

20. Baylor: 45-17

21. Mississippi State: 41-20

22. Long Beach State: 31-25

23. East Carolina: 46-18

24. Minnesota: 38-24

25. Southern Mississippi : 32-26

*

Rankings by Collegiate Baseball, including ranking points:

1. Georgia Tech: 478 points

2. USC: 477

3. LSU: 473

4. Nebraska: 469

5. Clemson: 465

6. Arizona State: 462

7. Rice: 460

8. Florida State: 456

9. Miami: 455

10. South Carolina: 453

11. Stanford: 449

12. CS Fullerton: 446

13. Florida: 442

14. Notre Dame: 439

15. Oklahoma: 437

16. Georgia: 433

17. Baylor: 430

18. Auburn: 429

19. Central Florida: 425

20. Stetson: 424

21. Mississippi State: 420

22. Long Beach State: 418

23. Evansville: 415

24. Alabama: 411

25. Tennessee: 409