OMAHA IS THE GOAL

One of these years, San Diego State’s baseball team is bound to reach the postseason.

Tony Gwynn sure hopes it’s this year.

For a team that plays in a sun-splashed city that produces a ton of prep talent -- and they’ve got a sweet little ballpark -- the Aztecs have a feeble postseason history.

San Diego State hasn’t made it to a regional since 1991. It’s never been to the College World Series.

For motivation, Gwynn posted a sign in the clubhouse that reads: “The road to Omaha always starts through this door.”

That road, though, always hits a dead end just as the NCAA tournament brackets are drawn up in late May.

“I can’t look that far down the road, to look to Omaha, but I sure could look toward the regionals,” said Gwynn, whose second season as coach of his alma mater begins this weekend with six games in four days at Hawaii-Hilo.

“If we do the things that we should do, I think we’re going to have a chance to go to the regionals for the first time in 13 years. I think that’s what they expect, too,” he said, motioning toward the dugout before an intrasquad game at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs came tantalizingly close to an NCAA tournament berth last year, but there would be no magical finish to Gwynn’s rookie season as coach. For the third straight year, the Aztecs lost in the Mountain West Conference tournament championship game. This time, the pitching gave out -- the Aztecs blew an 8-1 lead by giving up a 10-run inning, and lost 14-9.

Gwynn never overanalyzed things on his way to 3,141 hits and eight batting titles in 20 seasons with the Padres, and he doesn’t now as the Aztecs seek their big breakthrough.

“You’ve got to keep on running them out there,” said Gwynn, who was 29-32 last year. “At times we played four freshmen last year. This year, I don’t think there will be a freshman in the everyday lineup. But then again, there might be. You’ve got to keep on recruiting them and getting them in.”

The Aztecs had plenty of offense last year -- Gwynn’s son, Anthony, batted .359 before being drafted in the second round by the Milwaukee Brewers -- but not enough pitching.

This year that’s reversed. And, two talented players sought out SDSU. Senior closer Ryan Schroyer transferred from Arizona State and Scott Shoemaker came over from Long Beach State.

Asked to describe Schroyer’s repertoire, Aztecs outfielder Landon Burt replied: “He’s dirty. He’s the real deal. He throws hard. He’s a big dude, and he’s not afraid. He’s going to go right after you.”

Schroyer clashed with Arizona State coach Pat Murphy before transferring. Murphy responded by canceling a three-game series at SDSU, fearing bitterness over Schroyer’s transfer could spill onto the field.

“I wasn’t happy where I was at, and I was looking for a school where I can improve and learn a little bit about how pro ball is going to be, and I think the best place for that is here with Tony Gwynn,” Schroyer said.

For three games, at least, the Aztecs will get to feel what it’s like to be a big leaguer, just without the paycheck. SDSU is hosting the Aztec Invitational at 42,000-seat Petco Park, the Padres’ new $458 million ballpark.

In the March 11 opener against Houston, the Aztecs hope to break the college baseball attendance record of 27,673, set in 2002 when Louisiana State beat Tulane in the Superdome in New Orleans. SDSU will also play Long Beach State and Nebraska. All three schools played in the NCAAs last year.

“We can’t just play them and be content to say, ‘Hey, they’re on the schedule,’ Gwynn said. “You’ve got to beat people.”

Playing in a big league park before the big league team gets its first chance will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“We’ll find out what they’re made of,” Gwynn said. “You can’t swing your bat with your booty tight. You can’t run the bases with your booty tight. You can’t pitch with your booty tight. A lot of these guys, for the first time, are going to get an opportunity to play a game in front of a big crowd with a lot of expectations, and we’re going to find out if they can excel in those kinds of surroundings.

“For me, it tells me a lot. I’m excited for them. All of that aside, we’ve got to win games.”

Gwynn was pleasantly surprised last year by how hard college players worked.

This year, he said he’s more patient.

“Last year I kind of came in thinking that all the stuff we worked on in the fall was going to carry over into the spring and when it didn’t, you kind of hit that panic button,” he said. “This year, no. I’m pretty calm this year. I’m pretty well set knowing that we have a lot of young guys. They’re going to make young guy mistakes, and hopefully we’re going to get better, quickly.”