League of Their Own

Cal State Northridge makes its much-anticipated Big West Conference baseball debut today at 2:30 p.m. against Cal State Sacramento in the opener of a three-game series at Matador Field.

Not long ago, it appeared Northridge didn’t belong on the same baseball field with some Big West teams.

Last May, perennial power Cal State Fullerton pounded the Matadors, 17-5, at Northridge, then added a 6-3 victory at Fullerton to cap Northridge’s 23-33 season.

Nevada, co-champion with Fullerton last season, scored 47 runs in a three-game sweep of Northridge.

But that, the Matadors hope, was then. This is now, as well as their future.

“The whole complexion of this program has changed,” Coach Mike Batesole of Northridge said. “There are a lot more guys walking around here with their heads held high because the program is in much better shape than it ever has [been]--at least, since I’ve been here.”

Northridge (19-10) has struggled to reestablish its program after it was briefly cut by administrators in 1997. While potential recruits shunned Northridge, Batesole chose to rebuild by recruiting freshmen and hurling them into the fire while the Matadors endured four so-so seasons as an independent.

His strategy appears to have paid off. The Matadors have matured and improved, boasting a rock-solid lineup that ranks second in the Big West in team batting average. Northridge leads the conference in home runs, runs batted in and slugging percentage.

Shortstop J.T. Stotts, the Matadors’ leadoff hitter, is batting .417 and ranks among conference leaders in all offensive categories.

First baseman Tim Arroyo, who is batting .412 with seven home runs, and designated hitter Robert Smith, who is at .394 with seven home runs, rank among the Big West’s top five in batting average.

“We have a lot of guys who can swing the bat, up and down the lineup,” Stotts said. “That’s our biggest strength.”

Northridge is picked to finish tied for fourth in a revamped, seven-team Big West that includes Fullerton, Sacramento, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Pacific.

The conference champion receives a berth in the 64-team NCAA playoffs.

Fullerton (16-10), picked to finish first, is ranked No. 24 in the nation by Baseball America. Every team in the Big West enters conference play with a winning record.

Northridge, of course, is no stranger to Big West members. Over the years, the Matadors have held their own against Fullerton, a three-time NCAA champion, holding a 39-30 lead in a series that dates to 1966.

Northridge holds an all-time edge over Long Beach, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.

Batesole is eager to test his improving team in conference play.

“It’s the best Santa Barbara team that I’ve seen since ‘96,” Batesole said. “It’s the best San Luis Obispo team that I’ve seen in the eight years I’ve been here. And Long Beach and Fullerton are going to be Long Beach and Fullerton. That leaves [Sacramento and Pacific] and us to try and be a part of that mix.”

Do the Matadors belong?

“We’re about to find out,” Batesole said.

Northridge posted an 11-9 victory over Pepperdine on Wednesday in a final tune-up for conference play.

The Waves (18-10) are ranked among the top 25 in at least three national polls.

Northridge has posted three-game sweeps this season of Oregon State, Temple and Pacific.

There is no doubting the Matadors’ confidence.

“When we were all freshmen, we went through some of the worst losses you can think of,” Stotts said.

“But all those losses have built us up to this team we have right now. This is what we’ve been gearing up for.”

Northridge had a second consecutive losing season last year for the first time since 1995. Shaky pitching was a big reason. The Matadors’ inexperienced staff had a 5.65 earned-run average with only five complete games.

Despite taking their lumps, Bill Murphy, Kameron Loe, Merrill Dunn and Mike Frick, who became the team’s closer this season, showed promise.

Pitching remains the biggest question mark. The staff is tired after a stretch of seven games in 11 days.

“The pitching staff is stretched out to the max,” Batesole said.

Junior left-hander Andy Davidson (5-1), the staff’s most consistent pitcher, will start today.

Frick, who leads the Matadors with five saves, said joining the Big West was a big boost to morale.

“It makes all the difference in the world,” Frick said. “We have a goal to reach.

“It’s a lot easier than just floating around in Division I baseball. You know what you need to do. You can see you need to win this many games. Who knows how many games you have to win if you’re not in a conference?”

Like the rest of the Matadors, Stotts is looking forward to establishing rivalries with his new conference opponents.

“We’ll have something to work for,” Stotts said. “As an independent, you’re just playing everyday and you don’t have a conference, any rivals.

“It’s just another game. When you go into a conference, there’s something to play for, something to win.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

THE OPENER

CS NORTHRIDGE

vs. CS SACRAMENTO

Today at 2:30 p.m.

at Matador Field

STANDINGS

BIG WEST CONFERENCE

Through Thursday

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Team Rec. UC Santa Barbara 19-7 Cal Poly SLO 18-8 CS Northridge 19-9 CS Fullerton 16-10 Long Beach State 15-10 CS Sacramento 15-14 Pacific 16-15

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