Irvine’s diamond gem

The folks at Rosenblatt Stadium like to call the College World Series the Greatest Show on Dirt.

The NCAA baseball regional being contested this weekend at UC Irvine’s Anteater Ballpark, may have a claim as the Show on the Greatest Dirt.

The playing surface at the 3,200-seat home of the nation’s No. 1-ranked team has also earned elite status, according to those who know it best, the UCI players and coaches.

“Our surface is better than any field we play on,” UCI senior shortstop Ben Orloff said. “It’s the best infield we play on all year.”

UCI Coach Mike Gillespie is among the legion of admirers of head groundskeeper Scott Lupold, assistant Micah Ramsay and a handful of student assistants including former players Reid Suitor, Tom Callahan and Mike Pugliese.

“I told the ESPN [broadcasters] that I hoped they would walk our infield and I told [ESPN analyst Phil Nevin, a former major leaguer and a former star at Cal State Fullerton] that he didn’t play on a better major league infield and he played on all of them,” Gillespie said. “I know the guys who come in here, certainly the infielders, love it.

“It’s not an excuse, but the field was an issue at LSU last season [in the Super Regional won by the Tigers]. That was a pinball-type deal.”

UCI junior All-American pitcher Danny Bibona and junior starter Christian Bergman also were happy to sing the praises of their home venue.

“We got to play at Rosenblatt [in the 2007 College World Series] and I want to go back there so bad,” Bibona said. “But this [Irvine] playing surface is way better.”

Added Bergman: “I’ve played in Angel Stadium [in high school], we played at Minute Maid Park [in Houston] and I’ve played in triple-A parks in Texas and New Mexico. And this is still the nicest surface I’ve played on.

“I definitely don’t take it for granted,” Bergman said. “I notice it every day.”

Bibona said opposing players notice the quality of the surface and visiting coaches here for the regional were very complimentary after working out on the field Thursday.

“I hear guys on the other team saying ‘The ball is bouncing funny here,’ ” Bibona said. “I told the guy ‘That’s how the ball is supposed to bounce.’ [Lupold] says he hasn’t seen a bad hop here in five years and I believe him.”

Lupold, 26, who also works on the grounds crew at Dodger Stadium, is part of the legacy left by former coach Dave Serrano.

“Serrano recruited me from USC,” said Lupold, who began a five-year stint at Blair Field in Long Beach, after playing baseball at Millikan High. “Then Serrano left [for Cal State Fullerton] a week later. Luckily, Gillespie came in as his replacement, since I knew Gillespie from USC.”

Lupold said he learned his craft from the best at Dodger Stadium, some of whom are in Irvine to help out for the regional. He also said the key to any quality baseball diamond is the dirt.

“Any groundskeeper and the players will tell you it’s the dirt,” Lupold said. “You can have the most beautiful grass in the world, but if the first ground ball in the game hits a guy in the face and it’s an error, that’s the worst thing that can happen. The grass looks good, but it really doesn’t decide the game.”

Lupold said he is happy to show off his baby to a national television audience (on ESPNU), but he is also anxious for his peers from Dodger Stadium to assess the diamond.

“[National television] is cool, but there’s pressure, too,” Lupold said. “If I think I’m tough on myself, my friends from Dodger Stadium are tougher. I’m more worried about them than the ESPN cameras.”

Virginia Coach Brian O’Connor was among those generous with compliments.

“It’s very nice,” O’Connor said. “I’m very impressed with this ballpark. It’s very well-maintained.”

Fresno State Coach Mike Batesole also sung its praises.

“It looks great and it played great [in Thursday’s workout],” Batesole said. “It’s a beautiful place.”