No. 2 Titans Start Baseball Practice

Cal State Fullerton, ranked No. 2 nationally in Collegiate Baseball’s poll, begins practice Tuesday, and Coach George Horton is optimistic.

He has good reason.

“We’re probably as deep as we’ve been in a while,” said Horton, who coached the Titans to the College World Series last season for the first time since replacing Augie Garrido before the 1997 season.

That depth begins with a pitching staff that returns starters Matt Sorensen (12-0), Adam Johnson (10-4) and Jon Smith (7-1), along with closer Kirk Saarloos (7-3).

Jordan DeJong, who was 4-1 last season as a part-time starter, has transferred to Tennessee, but the Titans have added several transfers, including Ron Corona and Jake Moon from Cypress College and Mike Nunez from San Jose College. Freshman Nick Lovato from Mater Dei High School also is highly regarded.

Horton said the good depth will create some interesting position battles.

Shawn Norris, a regular at shortstop most of last season, has moved to third base to replace 1999 home run leader Ryan Owens, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks after his junior season. That leaves freshman Mike Martinez from Katella High competing with junior Chad Olszanski at shortstop.

Sophomore Sean Bischofberger, regarded as a potential regular at third base, has been troubled by a shoulder injury. “Because of that, it’s hard for us to count on him much in our plans,” Horton said. “He also has to pass an intersession class to be eligible.”

First base also is uncertain despite the return of leading hitter Chris Beck, a standout at the position last year while batting .408 with 75 runs batted in. Beck will return to the outfield in an effort to reduce his back problems.

That means Horton will have to decide whether Aaron Rifkin or Jake Epstein, a transfer from Missouri, will play first base. Rifkin was the designated hitter most of the time last season, batting .378 with 47 RBIs.

The Titans have several capable outfielders, led by Beck and returning regular Robert Guzman, a defensive standout as a freshman in the NCAA playoffs.

Former Canyon High standout Mike Tomarelli, who appeared in nine games last season, has transferred to Cypress College, but the Titans have added outfielder Steve Woodward, a transfer from Texas. Chris Stringfellow and Matt Belfanti, a transfer from Mendocino College, also are expected to be in the running.

Horton expects a tight battle at catcher among seniors Craig Patterson and Jeff Gates and sophomore Brett Kay.

“All three are going to catch some, but I don’t want it to be a revolving door,” Horton said. “That will be one of the toughest calls we’ll have to make.”

The Titans open the season Feb. 4-6 with three games at Stanford, which is No. 1 in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason poll.

UPWARDLY MOBILE

The UC Irvine men’s volleyball team, coming off its best season, isn’t wasting any time testing itself this season. The Anteaters host California on Tuesday and the Wyndham West Coast Challenge Friday and Saturday.

The round-robin tournament also features UCLA, Long Beach State and Pacific, four of the top 11 teams in the final national poll last season. Long Beach is expected to be top-ranked in the preseason. UCLA will likely be ranked in the top three.

The Anteaters finished 14-11 and were ranked 10th last season. They set a school record for victories and advanced to the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament for the first time.

Irvine returns four seniors, including setter Cory Hinkle, who set a school record for assists last season. Steve Cavella, Kevin Reid and Josh Richardson also return.

Reid, who was academically ineligible last season, will play a new position in college volleyball this season, libero. It is a floating substitute, who can enter the game at any time for any player. He is restricted to back-line play, defense and passes. The player also must wear a different color jersey from his teammates.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Irvine guard Jens Jenson went home for Christmas. Not unusual for a college kid, but Jenson comes from Aarhus, Denmark.

He left after practice Dec. 23 and returned Dec. 27.

“I spent 20 hours in the air and got 2 1/2 days at home,” Jenson said.

Then there was assistant volleyball coach Jason Bilbruck.

“About 11:59 on New Year’s Eve, I’m going down to the nearest ATM just in case it starts spitting out money,” he said last week.

Staff writer Chris Foster contributed to this story.