Depth Gives Baseball Team Plenty of Choices

The Cal State Fullerton baseball team began its version of spring training Monday with what Coach George Horton calls “an abundance of ability.”

Horton said that’s going to make it difficult to settle on a starting lineup. The season starts Feb. 5 against Stanford.

“We’re probably going to be splitting hairs to decide between some guys,” Horton said. “And there are very few positions right now where we can say for certain who will be playing.”

The outfield is one example.

Horton moved Chris Beck, who hit .361 last season as a part-time starter, from the outfield to first base in fall practice. However, sophomore Aaron Rifkin, a transfer from Chapman, has been so impressive at first base that Beck might return to the outfield or become the designated hitter.

Home-run and runs-batted-in leader Aaron Rowand signed with the White Sox, but Reed Johnson, strong on defense and the team’s top base-stealing threat a year ago, returns. Two transfers--Spencer Oborn from Brigham Young and Rod Perry Jr. from USC--also loom as potential regulars.

Horton said Perry, who gave up football to concentrate on baseball, showed considerable improvement in the fall. “He seemed to get better every day,” Horton said.

Oborn was one of the top hitters in the Western Athletic Conference for two seasons, batting more than .400 and hitting 15 home runs each year.

Horton said freshmen outfielders Robert Guzman and Chris Stringfellow showed signs in the fall that they will keep the pressure on the more experienced players.

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Battles are also expected in the infield.

Returning shortstop Ryan Owens had a good summer playing for Team USA, after struggling at times last season, batting only .288 with a team-leading 27 errors.

Sophomore Chad Olszanski and freshman Shawn Norris are strong defensively. “We feel we have three outstanding prospects at the position,” Horton said. “Norris showed maturity beyond his years in the fall.”

Ryan Moore is the returning regular at third base, but freshman Sean Bischofberger could challenge him. Owens also could move to third. Moore had problems on defense last season, but Horton said he improved in the fall.

“Moore is too good a hitter to not be in the lineup somewhere,” Horton said. Moore batted .336 and was second on the team in home runs (14) and RBIs (56) last season.

Beck and Rifkin also might face a challenge from redshirt freshman Grant Wilson at first base. Wilson sat out last season because of back surgery.

The only infielder not likely to be challenged is second baseman David Bacani, who batted .317 last year. “He had a good fall, and he’s shown he can be one of our best players this season,” Horton said.

Junior Craig Patterson platooned at catcher last season and is the leading candidate to take over full time. However, freshman Brett Kay and Bischofberger might challenge.

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The pitching staff is the big question mark, but Horton is hopeful it will be adequate despite the loss of seniors Benny Flores and Erasmo Ramirez, who had a combined 23 victories last season.

Sophomore left-hander Jon Smith was sidelined most of last season because of arm and shoulder trouble, but has the potential to be the team’s top starter. He was the third starter early in the season.

Kirk Saarloos (4-2 last season) is expected to be one of the three weekend starters, and last year’s closer, Adam Johnson, probably will be the third starter. How well pitchers such as Michael Garner, Ruben Jurado, George Carralejo and Jordan DeJong develop will be critical to the Titans’ success on the national level.

The Titans are ranked 11th in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason poll, primarily because of their strength on offense.

“One of the things I like about this team is its overall athletic ability,” Horton said. “We give the players what we call a fitness component test that measures a lot of things, and this team scored significantly better than some of our others have recently.

“That doesn’t mean they’re better players, but it does indicate that they are better, as a group, as athletes.”