2004 Baseball Preview: High Hopes for the Toros Program

Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball head coach George Wing has high hopes for this year's 2004 Toros baseball program. With Third-Team All-American and CCAA Player of the Year Joe Gevas having graduated, and losing Second-Team All-CCAA Larry Robles to the Major League Baseball draft, Wing has recruited a plethora of new talent looking to balance the exuberance of his incoming freshmen with the experience of his returning players, and hoping for a new level of talent, excitement and rejuvination that will bring a Toro squad that finished eighth in the CCAA into the upper half of an always tough CCAA Conference.

Replacing the numbers an all-world player like Gevas put up last season won't be easy; in fact, says Wing, it is highly unlikely. "I don't know that you replace a Joe Gevas," the head coach echoes.

"We don't have a power left-handed hitter this year. We're hoping that other guys are going to step up their game and divide some of Joe's numbers."

Two players who certainly are expected to help carry their share of the load are returning Second-Team All-CCAA selection Ruben Salazar and Zac Corte, whose return from injury during the middle of last season provided a great boost to the Toro offense.

"We know that we have some key people coming back, and we have high expectations. I think we have the horses offensively and we've got some young stallions pitching wise that if we nurture them right, this could be a fun year."

LAST SEASON
Last season saw the Toros enjoy their longest win streak of the year in April, winning five-consecutive games from Hawaii-Pacific in a span that saw them take six of seven games in that series. In fact, CSUDH enjoyed two separate three-game win streaks, and won back-to-back contests on six different occasions. Conversely, the Toros dropped consecutive games in six separate stretches, most of which coming early in the season.

This late-season success has Wing and the coaching staff optimistic about the 2004 campaign, and, along with the youthful talent, has them excited about its opportunities.

"Towards the end of last season, we played some of our best baseball, especially in the final weekend against Chico (a series in which the Toros split four games, but edged the Wildcats in runs scored, 22-19)," Wing reflects. "But we tended to do that, rise to the occasion (of playing upper echelon teams) and then play down to teams that didn't fare so well. We couldn't stay consistent in our play."

THIS SEASON
This season's roster will only slightly resemble the team Wing fielded in 2003. Of the Toros 30 current players, 18 are new, including nine who are freshmen. With such an influx of youth and a lack of college experience, Wing will rely heavily on a few returnees to lead the Toro charge once the Quartz/CSUDH Tournament kicks off the season the weekend of January 31.

Seniors Ruben Salazar, a 2003 ABCA Division II All-West Region and Second-Team All-CCAA selection, and Zac Cort lead the way. Salazar is the top returner from an offensive squad that outhit its opponents .316 to .301, outscored its opponents 358 to 334, outslugged its opponents .498 to .414, and out-homered its opponents 60-28. In 2003, the Lynwood, CA, native earned a Second-Team All-CCAA honor, the first such honor of his career, starting all 55 games and posting the best batting average amongst everyday players with a solid .379. He also led the Toros with 83 hits and four doubles, placing second on the team with 48 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 11 home runs. In addition, the third baseman boasted a fielding percentage of .933, commiting only 13 errors in 181 chances at the hot corner. A preseason All-America heading into this campaign, his leadership will be immeasurable as his experience and senior status become increasingly vital to the development of a young team, a trait realized by the coaches.

"We have high expectations of Ruben," says Wing of his gap-to-gap type hitter. "Others will see the way he goes about it, his daily preparation and work ethic, and follow his lead. If he puts up last year's numbers and then some, he will be an All-American. It's really exciting."

Senior Cort missed a good portion of the 2003 season because of a lingering groin injury. Aware of the impact Cort had when he did play, however, the coaching staff isn't hesitant when stating what they expect from this Long Beach native this season, both as a player and a team leader.

"He had an outstanding year when he wasn't injured," Wing explains. "Zac is not one who's afraid to get into someone's dish if he needs to. If we can keep him healthy, we're hoping he can soak up some of the Gevas numbers from last year. We have big expectations for him."

Stressing the combination of pitching and defense for a successful year, coach Wing knows there are no "gimme" games scheduled this season, especially in the CCAA.

"The league is awesome," he says. "There used to be some soft spots, but they're gone."

He also knows that other players who gained valuable experience over the summer will have to step it up on and off the field if CSUDH hopes to be a participant in the CCAA postseason tournament.

"Because of that, I'm putting a lot of my energy and efforts into helping first-year assistant pitching coach Scott Veeder," explains Wing. "We've got a really good young staff. We just have to gear it the right way and I think it's going to do its part."

PITCHING
Pitching will be a tell-tale sign of how the Toros fare this season, and youth will play a major role. Gone from this year's squad are all Toro hurlers who posted more than one win last season, and in their place are six freshmen arms, and four returning underclassmen who got their first college pitching experience in 2003.

Coach Wing realizes the lack of pitching experience will limit his coaching staff in terms of adhering to a set rotation heading into the season, but that it gives all Toro on the hill the opportunity to compete and earn his place in the rotation.

"We'll give the ball to the pitchers, and whoever gets the job done will continue to get the ball," Wing explains. "By the middle of February (when they play Sonoma State), we'll have a set rotation, but it could change from series to series depending on how guys are doing."

Of the returners, coach Wing is counting on Ryan Owen to be a key contributor and, perhaps, be the guy. Slow to name Owen the ace of the staff, Wing likes what he sees in his sophomore hurler.

"Right now, Ryan Owen would be the guy," Wing emphasizes. "He was a go-to guy out of the pen who had a very good summer. He didn't have dominating type numbers from last year but he's got dominating type stuff. It's good to see what's going on with Ryan because he's going about the day-to-day like he's the ace, he's the guy. Our hope is that he maintains that."

Behind Owen come a number of arms, each with his own argument for a place in the starting rotation. Raul Claros, who returns this year after taking a year off to coach high school, is one of them. Emphasizing his experience, Wing already has seen Claros' leadership rub off on the young staff.

"He's got a lot of hands-on experience," the skipper says of Claros, who's stepped up as the leader of the pitching staff. "He's bringing that to a lot of the young guys, which has been very helpful in their early development."

Gus Herhandez, Freddy Medina and Ramon Mata are three others Wing expects to have solid years.

"Gus had an outstanding fall and was probably our best pitcher in the fall," Wing states. "And Freddy and Ramon, we're real high on them to be two of the guys."

Coach Wing and his staff also have high hopes for a few of their "big time" freshmen recruits in newcomers Trevor Renck and Bobby Esparza. Renck was one of the strikeout leaders in Orange County last season and he, along with Esparza "are going to be somewhere in the pitching mix," Wing predicts.

An arm Wing expects to utilize this season belongs to Jose Montes, a 6'3" right-handed junior who was rehabilitating from an injury all last season.

"If Montes gets to 100% pitching wise, he will become our ace again," Wing says. "As a freshman, he was 5-1, and that good. It's just a process of the rehab, getting the mental edge, and having to overcome more the mental comeback than the physical one."

Additionally, pitchers Brett Ingstad, whom Wing calls "a big, strong boy who just goes after hitters," and James Dotson, labeled a "finesse guy who's had a great fall," are two freshmen hurlers who have great futures ahead of them in Toro uniforms.

OFFENSE
Run production shouldn't be a problem for this year's squad, according to Wing. There is a nice balance of guys, including Chris Martinez, Houston Hernandez, Jason Flores and Scott Keiper among others, who excel in the short game, and will look to use their speed and smarts to get into scoring position.

Wing expects this quartet to score a lot of runs this season, courtesy of Salazar, Cort, a "big and strong kid" in Daniel Pilimai whom Wing hopes will become the day-in and day-out first baseman, and Ian Corso, a transfer from Cal State Stanislaus who has the coaches excited to see what he has to bring to the plate.

Perhaps coach Wing's "X-Factor" will be the return of pitcher Jose Montes to the offensive lineup, a 6'3" junior who can hit with the best of them. Montes was injured all of last season, deleting a major talent from the Toros offense. As the only player to ever hit for the cycle in a Toro uniform, Wing calls Montes "one of the best and most talented players in the program" Wing continues, "There's the pure hitter in Salazar, but Montes could be the guy. He has power and speed, and he executes. He's awesome to watch with a bat in his hands."

In addition, Ricky Eda and Frankie Valle are two returners who look to make their presence felt this season. Eda played summer ball and improved his offense tremendously. "He had a good summer and is a lot more offensive than he was before," Wing says of his senior. Plus, adds Wing, Eda has "taken on his role as a team leader," a trait the Toro brass appreciates and relishes. Valle, a 5'10" junior form Pico Rivera, looks to improve upon his stats from last season and has been "swinging the bat much better than he was a year ago."

Of the newcomers, Wing has noticed a few who he feels may make more than their fair share of contributions, starting with Joey Caira, a transfer from Mt. SAC. Caira was one of the best hitters in the state last season and will be looked upon to make his impact felt. Scott Keiper is another, who just about cemented his position as the starting shortstop.

"There was a war for shortshop and Scott just kind of hovered there," Wing explains. "When it got to the midway point, he just took off and ended up winning that job as of now and will bring offense to that position which we haven't had in a couple of years."

Another player Wing views as making a major contribution is Fernando Hernandez, who will play only one season in Cardinal Red and Gold.

"We really struggled with the idea of keeping a guy who was going to be around for only one year," Wing reflects. "But he does everything - pitches, plays shortstop and the outfield, and handles the bat as well as anyone in the program. He's a smart baseball player who will provide stable senior leadership."

INTANGIBLES
The team's chemistry is one of many components the Toro brass likes in the early going, citing the exuberance of the newcomers combined with the experience of the returners who know what to expect as one of the team's major strengths.

"It's been really fun to see how the guys have reacted," Wing says of the team that's ready to make its case for the postseason. "The young guys have been able to hold their ground and not back down to returners, but yet be respectful of them and their knowledge and experience. It's a mutual respect thing that's going on, and the way January's going, it's probably better than it's been in a while because of this high level of energy."

Noting how important this becomes over the course of some 50+ games, Wing is realistic and practical when mentioning the coaching staff's goals.

"I want to get people into their roles as quickly as possible," he stresses. "I've got a pretty good idea what their roles are going to be, but because we are young, it's really not going to show up until we get into the season and start finding how how guys respond."

With that said, however, Wing realizes this team has talent, and that if a lot of factors go the Toros way in advancing to postseason play, there's no telling what can happen.

"I've got a lot of 'hope' this and 'if we do' that ... that's kind of the approach," Wing summarizes.

"I keep saying that we just want to get into the tournament, but they're not satisfied with that idea. The returners know that last year we had success against the leaders of the pack and realize we didn't play as hard-nosed as we should have against the other teams. It's just a matter of bringing these guys along and getting people as much experience as possible, and then going from there."

And if the hitting produces, the pitching and defense are solid enough and the stars align to the point of getting the Toros into the CCAA Tournament and beyond?

"Well..." Wing smiles, "I'd like to get a taste of Alabama."