Highlanders Making Their Presence Felt

Jack Smitheran played at the highest levels of college baseball in the 1960s and in 34 years as a coach has won more than 1,000 games. But his greatest challenge may have been ushering UC Riverside into Division I.

The Highlanders were a longtime Division II power under Smitheran, winning eight California Collegiate Athletic Assn. championships and national titles in 1977 and 1982. Then the school joined the Big West Conference and the baseball team, like the rest of the athletic program, suffered growing pains.But in its second full year at Division I, Riverside appears to have hit its stride. The Highlanders are 14-3 heading into their own three-team tournament this weekend.

“I thought we had a good club coming out of the fall,” said Smitheran.

Riverside was 30-28 last season, including a respectable 10-14 in its first run through the Big West, a finish Smitheran said boosted his team’s confidence.

“You kind of have to reestablish yourself,” said Smitheran, who played with Reggie Jackson on the 1965 Arizona State national champions. “Being in Division I has been great for us, but it also threw us into another arena as far as competing with Cal State Fullerton, USC, UCLA, and Long Beach for players.”

Four regulars -- outfielders Ryan Harvey and Brian Wahlbrink, first baseman Kevin Mangels and second baseman Randy Blood -- are hitting .375 or better. The Highlanders also have a team earned-run average of 3.83, led by starters A.J. Shappi (4-0, 1.46) and Jaymie Torres (2-0, 2.22).

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Long Beach State softball Coach Pete Manarino, who has led the 49ers to five College World Series appearances in 20 years, won his 700th game when the 49ers upset No. 11 Stanford at Palo Alto last weekend. It was the only win for the 49ers (7-9 overall) in the tournament.

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The UCLA men’s golf team won the Cleveland Golf Classic on Tuesday at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. Steve Conway took the individual title, besting Cal’s Peter Tomasulo by one stroke. Eighth-ranked UCLA has won two consecutive tournaments and finished second in another.

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The USC men’s volleyball team, which is having a down season, had a great week. Mark Dusharme’s career-high 24 kills led the Trojans (5-14) to a 22-30, 30-28, 25-30, 30-21, 17-15 victory over fourth-ranked Lewis (Ill.) University on Monday night. On Wednesday, USC upset Cal State Northridge 30-23, 30-28, 25-30, 30-25, led by Josh Day’s 12 kills and 11 blocks.