1986_02 The Daily Collegian February 1986

              The Daily Collegian
' .   ."
BASEBALL PREVIEW
February 5, 1986
FSUopens'86 season
it* fore
1 shall sc
Only Fresno State could lose eight star¬
ters and three starting pitches from lh<
43-22 club of -85. and still be considered
prominent enough to take ihe PCAA
crown for the eighth consecutive lime
Can they reign again in "86?
"It's going to be another one of those
mystery seasons." said Bulld.ig mcntoi
Bob Bennett. "My education.il jjucss is
well be alright.
coming around. The lalent is t'icrc. it just
has to develop effectively."
Bennett, entering his eighteenth year as
nee lilies and nine N'CA \  regional
.ithough the 'Dogs return nine letter-
1. Bennett will rely hea\ily ipon a lal-
:d crop of recruits. Sophoir,..rcpiichcr
:e Goff and Junior outfielder Steve
:s head the lisl of key rciuinecs
ere's a preview of the fit. liull.l.,.^
ilehing — Besides lhc haM-ihrowing
f. only two other 'Dog hirlcrs regis-
d victories on the "85 squiid iSopho-
c Brett Davisand Senior Bill Hands),
nett on Goff: "He has a cfiance to be
he exception of Bar
-3). Coach Bennett plal,
in freshmen John !
and Steve Buckholi,
..    he four freshmen
brought in, Salles has the mo. .
and most poise. We think SaJ.
to pitch right away." sai
JC transfer's Sieve Wapn.K (Moor-
pack JC) and Dennis Spritzer (Kings
River CC). and frcshm
\pptei
UNLV
Bulldogs
Catching — Tim Jochner. a transfer
from Los Medanos JC, has landed the
starting spot here. Jochner threw out 26 of
31 base runners at Los Medanos, and bal¬
led .376. Another JC transfer. Bill Mosiello
(.315, 22 RBI's) anticipates some time
behind the plate. Harvey Hill, a two-year
should do most of hisTwork at DH.
"Harvey's improved his catching to the
point where he can help us."said Bennett,
"He's always batted well, and he tore ihe
cover off the ball in winter league."
One more name to absorb at catcher is
junior Eric Enos, a transfer from the Col¬
lege of the Sequoias. ""
Infield - Losing three-time Gold Glover
Xavier (.341) at shortstop, team MVPand
third baseman Bob Bafia (.355), first
baseman Dave Studdert (.298).and second
baseman Garrett Crough (.297), it will
take some mighty skilled athletes to fill
these shoes. Fortunately, that's exactly
what Coach Bennett feels he has.
"We're going to have a lot of new faces
in the infield, but I don't think well be
disappointed with these new faces.
"Not only do wc have a good defensive
infield, but we will feature some fine hit¬
lers." added Bennett.
The job of replacing Xavier is on the
shoulders of Shawn Gilbert, the JC transfer
from Golden West JC.
"He's an outstanding shortstop," re¬
marked Bennett, "He's a perfect player to
replace Xavier; speedy, good arm, and
good range."
Over at the hot corner, walk-on Kevin
Evert from Cerritos JC, whose play
resembles that of the scrappy Craig Net¬
tles fills the bill at third base. Returnee
Pete Martinez, who batted .333 in spot
Junior transfer's George Haruta, John
Sellick, and Scott Blechman are all vow¬
ing for the starting  nod at first  base.
plai
y had a good wii
well for us last si
n aggressive scco
Depth at second base will be provided
by yet another JC transfer Evin Edwards,
while Scott Scllncr will back-up Gilbert at
shortstop, and senior Robb Ferreria will
play the piviial utility man role.
Outfield — Despite the departure of
Seattle-bound Eric Fox, the outfield, as in
years past, is the team's biggesi strength.
In left field, junior Steve Bates is coming
off a pleasing .304 year, and should pro¬
vide needed leadership. Bennett feels Bates
in right field, while sophomore Ha
Brumficld. who Bennett finds similai
to Fox in speed, and ability, and will
:r for hi
.-r field.
Also looking forward to seeing playing
time is Junior John Larios (.294). JC
transfer Gary Zancanelli, Junior Michael
Stewart, a first-team all-PCAA for FSU
football, and Freshman Jeff Molt, who
icdslnrl
Benn
st year
scrappy, running learn, with the ability to
show power in spurts." The toughest foe
in the PCAA this season is suppose to be
UNLV, which returns II lettermen and
was the pre-season pick by the coaches to
win the conference.
The 'Dogs' season opens at Evan Dia¬
mond in Berkeley Friday at 2 p.m. against
a worthy opposition. "Cal looksoulstand-
ing, and is one of the better teams in the
country. But, well be ready when the first
pitch is delivered." assured a positive
Coach Bennett.
Going through initial drills and
afternoon   of practice.
team prepares for an
Youth holds key for 'Dogs
n^med '86 preseason favorite;
will face rebuilding year
The only returntaf pitcher from last year's team, Mike Goff tf the
After a seven-year hegeofi
Pacific Coast Allelic Assoc
Fresno State University Bu
baseball power has received
nod by coaches and media aji
Following a trend set in Jo<
basketball, Nevada-Las Vegas v
as the team to dethrone FSU I
Bennett and his Diamond '&<£
With a relatively small nun b,
rienced players, the Build
picked to finish fourth in thcc.i
and third in the media poll
received four first-place votes in
poll and one in the coaches pol
UNLV. 40-21 overall and
PCAA play, is coached by I
more, in his thirteenth year >l
helm. Dallimore will greet 11
from last year's squad, mdudi
season All-American infieMci
-pitcher Mike Ogles!
is the best deplh *
ungtime.-Dallimort
. comes through, m
good as the teams we've had
1981 (the Rebels were 53-13-
Looking at the Rebels rode
may be the only weak area n|
Besides Oglesbee, only Scon 1
experienced performer. Htttmi
will be UNLVs strong suit.
"Offensively, wc can rea IK
ball and produce runs," said I.
Selected second in both
Titans of Fullerton Slate appear to.be a
viable contender for the PCAA crown.
Under the guidance of Coach Augie Gar-
: ndo, the Titans have taken two NCAA
1 Despite high preseason rankings (Fuller-
ton State was picked No. 10 in the nation).
i  Garrido holds reservations about the -86
1 Titans.
3 "We don't have any proven players on
this edition of the Titan baseball team,"
former FSU baseball standout Garrido
trthro
infielder
tne media      Titans standouts include pitchers Mike
Belanger and Mike Harkey. infielder Jeff
1    ''  '"  Garcia and outfielder Tony Newkirk.
i    ok It has been some time since the Bulldogs
the Rebel rf ^ rjenne,, have not been PCAA prc-
rcuirnccs scason favorjtes. bul FSU's lack of expe¬
rt wT r'enccd personnel will make it difficult for
vlatl Wil-  (he   ,Dog5  (0 clajm  their cjght-straight
After losing veteran Eric Fox to the
i if r," SeaUlc Mariners' organization. Benneit
ld "lhc has just two players who saw considerable
an M as ac(jon jn-g5 on (h;s year's squad. Pitcher
1980 and MjKe Goff (8-6.4.00 ERA)and outfielder
' ™' Steve Bates (.304) arc the lone returning
pitching starters but a bumper crop of promising
this team. Jc (ransfers an(j freshmen should see the
ewts is an  .Dogs in (he ,hick  of ,ne  PCAA race
owever- again.
"We have a new infield and our pitching
drive the s(a)f was a[most completely depleted."
more,     said Bennett. "We do have some babies on
Mils, the t||e pitching staff, bi/t they have good
coaches'poll and fourth in the media poll,
and overall stronger club. Coached by Al
Ferrer, the Gauchos have a slong starting
pitching rotation and bullpen, led by All-
PCAA selection Mike Tresemer (9-5, 2.23
ERA in -85). )
"This is the most explosive offensive
UC Irvine was picked to finish fifth in
the coaches poll and seventh in the media
poll but Coach Mike Gerakos feels his
Anteaters might pull a few. surprises this
year. Gerakos' optimism is spurred by a
strong core of pitchers.
"We had to make some adjustments
and we've worked hard to improve in that
The Spartans of San Jose State,
coached by Gene Menges. were picked (o
finish fifth by the media poll and seventh
by the coaches poll.
"If we have a strength on this year's
team, it is hitting." said Menges.
Rounding out the pack are the Tigers of
the University of the Pacific, coached by
John Picone, selected to finish last by
both polls.
Long Beach State, picked to finish sixth
in both polls, will have a new look this
year, especially in the pitching depart-
"We're pretty excited," said 49ers
John Gonsalves. "But we do have a lot of
Sports Writer
The 1986 Fresno State baseball team
will be sporting a new look this year. With
only eight returning Ietterman, the em¬
phasis  is  being  placed  on  newcomers.
The biggest question mark for the 'Dogs
is pitching. Only Mike Goff has ever won
a major college baseball game. But tal¬
ented newcomers will be on hand to shore
up the staff. John Salles, a freshman righ¬
thander from McLane High School will
likely be one of the other starters behind
Goff.
Steve Wapnick, a righthanded junior
transfer from Sepulvcda, is also expected
to be a starter for the 'Dogs. Wapnick has
twice been drafted, by the Oakland A's
and the San Diego Padres, but opted to
play college baseball for Coach Bob
Bennett.
Another newcomer, Dennis Springer
could wind up in the bullpen for the
'Dogs, but may be needed as a starter.
Springer, a transfer from Kings River Col¬
lege, has impressive credentials. H<
the Metro pitcher of the year in 1983
he was at Washington Union High School.
He also had 198 strikeouts in only 137
innings with the Panthers.
Junior transfer Tim  Jochner
likely candidate for the catching spot.
Jochner comes to FSU with a strong
and a good bat and will probably be
starter when the 'Dogs open the s«
Friday at Cal.
The infield will have a completely dif-
i. At firsl
COS transfer Scott Blechman and Santa
Rosa JC transfer John Sellick will
competing for the starting nod. Blechi
was an all-Central Valley Conference.
former the last two seasons with the
Giants, and could also find himself as the
designated hitter.
Sellick a power hitter from Petaluma.
highly regarded, especially by the N<
York  Mets. They have drafted  Sellick
Bennett
Continued from page S
Bennett has come a long way since he
originally filled in for legendary Bulldog
Coach Pete Beiden. Summoned in from
Bullard High School.when Beiden took a
sabbatical, Bennett successfully debuted
as Bulldog coach by leading the 1967
•Dogs to a 38-10 mark and the NCAA
Regionals.
After returning lo Bullard for the ensu¬
ing two seasons, Bennett returned to Fresno
State in 1970 after Beiden's resignation
and has reigned supreme to this day. By
1971. he had already captured his 100th
career coaching victory and capped off
lhat successful year with top coaching
honors in the conference.
If Fresno State athletics had its own
thesaurus. Bob Bennett s name would most
certainly fall under the words success and
leadership. As Division One's 13th winn-
ingest active coach in America, Bennett
continues to carry that winning tradition
into the 1986 Bulldog baseball season.
If his local achievements were not
enough, Bennett's reputation stretches
internationally. As head coach of the
U.S. bronze medal winners in he 1983
Pan American games and the silver me
winners of the Intercontinental Cup gai
of the same year. Bennett had an oppor¬
tunity to share his superior coaching skills
with some of the finest ballplayers in the
Last month, Bennett was selected by the
U nited States Baseball Federation to coach
the U.S. squad competing this summer in
the World Championships in Holland.
But for the lime being, his thoughts and
efforts remain on this vear's Fresno State
Bulldogs, who complete pre-season
tice this week before heading up to
California in this weekend's season op
Along with Mike Rupcich and the n
the Bulldog coaching staff, Bennett has
his work cut out for him with the inexpe¬
rienced squad Fresno State fields this sea¬
son. But if his reputation of nearly two
decades remains intact, he will certainly
concentrate all efforts on molding his
team with the proven winner image which
he typifies best:
___ma
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