2006 Baseball Preview: Toros Will Use "Small Ball" Formula With Speed and Defense As Ingredients
February 10, 2006

The 2006 Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball team looks to be much improved from the 2005 campaign that saw the Toros finish nine games below .500. Equipped with 16 returning letter winners, including 11 pitchers, and five newcomers ready to make their impact felt, the Toros have both the experience and hunger necessary to reverse their fortunes from a year ago, and will look to make head coach George Wing’s 18th season at the helm of the Toros ship an exciting and unforgettable one.

THE YEAR THAT IS
With the players from the Toro long ball era gone, the 2006 team is shaking things up, utilizing a “small ball” formula to push runs across. Although CSUDH has lost many of their big bats, they have speed in nearly every position, a trade-off Wing is excited about,

"The thing that is different is the team speed,” he says with a smile. “We've got a lot more team speed this year than we had a year ago.”

Coach Wing also believes that with more players able to handle the bat, the Toros will be able to compensate for the power loss.

"I think that we handle the bat ‘situational-wise’ better than we did a year ago,” Wing begins. “Last season we had the long ball, and that was fun, but if the long ball wasn’t there, we didn’t do a real good job of executing. I think this club is going to do a better job of that."

The Toros look to supplement their “small ball” mentality with a much-improved defense. Last season CSUDH committed 92 errors resulting in 73 unearned runs, costing them many close games.

Coach Wing has faith in his newly revamped defense, stating, “I think that we are going to be much more solid defensively. Defense was a huge, huge problem for us last year, especially the left side of the infield, which was really disappointing. We feel much better about serving up ground balls with this pitching staff because we feel like they are going to get picked up and thrown across the field."

With nearly the entire pitching staff returning with a much needed year of experience under their collective belts, the 2006 staff is ready for the challenge of improving on last season’s less than stellar performance. The struggles of last season’s pitchers can be credited in part to a lack of college experience and having to pitch through fielding errors, extending many innings beyond three outs. With a solid defense behind them and a year experience added, the 2006 pitching staff should have the confidence to let their opponents put the ball in play.

Leading the Toros will be team captain and second baseman Houston Hernandez, along with center fielder Isidro Perez. They are two of three returning players to start all 55 games last season, and were No. 5 and No. 1, on the team in batting average, hitting .302 and .351, respectively. Both have worked hard in the off-season to improve all aspects of their game and are ready to lead the Toro charge. Joining them will be returning CCAA Freshman of the Year Matthew Hopps who, in his first year, started all 55 games, and was just a hair shy of hitting .300 with a .298 clip. A mainstay at first base last season, look for the 6'5” sophomore to accumulate more innings on the mound this season, while being the main designated hitter for the Toros.

A couple of new faces to watch this season will be conference transfer Mateo Marquez in the outfield and San Diego City College transfer Sean Sivers on the mound.

THE YEAR THAT WAS
In 2005, the Toros returned only 11 players from the previous season, and with only three of the top 10 hitters returning from that squad, there were more than a few question marks heading into the season.

When the dust settled, the 2005 season looked on paper as though the Toros were never in it, posting a 23-32 overall and 13-26 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) record. However, taking a closer look at the numbers reveals that the Toros were closer to the top than most people realized. In conference play, the 2005 Toros fell in six games that were decided by just one run, in three games by two runs, and in three by three runs. If the ball had bounced the Toros’ way in those 12 contests, then CSUDH would have ended up 26-13 in conference, giving them the CCAA’s best record.

Although the Toros finished in the bottom half of a very competitive CCAA conference, they improved immensely on the previous season: team ERA dropped by nearly two runs a game from 9.31 to 7.01; their opponents’ ERA jumped up nearly one run; both homerun and slugging percentage numbers increased.

"We improved a little bit from the year before," begins head coach George Wing. "We had some really good offensive years from about four or five guys, and they were all gone from last year’s team, and our pitching staff was also young, in terms of pitching in this confidence and pitching at this level.”

Offensively, the Toros put on a show most games, with 13 games of 10 or more runs. As a team the 2005 squad set a single-season slugging percentage record of .468, breaking a 24-year-old record. Individually, Ricky Eda would tie the single-season home run record with 19, and break the single-season records for slugging percentage with .722 and most runs scored with 69, also tying the record for runs scored in a game (5) en route to being voted 1st Team All-CCAA and 2nd Team All-Region.

ON THE HILL
Leading the hurlers this season will be a solid tandem of four-year senior lefty Ryan Owen, and senior righty Jason Garcia.

Last season, Garcia and Owen were 1st and 2nd in opponents’ batting average on the squad, holding opposing teams to .261 and .319 batting averages, respectively. The duo also placed 2nd and 3rd in strikeouts, with 48 and 40 respective Ks, while being two of only three pitchers to compile over 60 innings on the mound.

The hardest thrower on the staff is Matt Hopps, who last season saw most of his action at 1st base due to an early season injury suffered by the likely starter. However, in five appearances out of the bullpen last season, Hopps struck out four in only 5.1 innings of work, posting a 5.06 ERA.

Coach Wing looks forward to his returning Freshman of the Year seeing more time on the hill.

“He has had an outstanding fall and has really improved this off season,” Wing says. “He is probably our hardest thrower and is a huge presence on the mound who shows command of three pitches."

A pair of familiar faces tossing the ball this season will be Gus Hernandez and James Dodson. Both will be again used in various roles this season, seeing stints as both starters and out of the pen. Collectively, they made 30 appearances while tossing 78 innings, striking out 65 and picking up five wins.

The resident fireman against left handed hitters will be David Leyva, a southpaw who will be looked upon to shut down opposing lefties. As a freshman, Leyva made 11 appearances as a reliever, starting three games.

As middle relievers, returner Gary Scott and newcomer Sean Sivers both are upperclassmen and proven pitchers at the collegiate level. Scott was second on the team with 20 appearances, while starting five games, tossing a gem against Concordia (CA) in a four-inning relief appearance in which he fanned six against just two hits.

Don’t be surprised this season if you see the left fielder come marching in straight to the mound as Fred Medina and Michael Brown may see time in both the outfield and on the hill. Media collected 14.2 innings last season while striking out 15 batters, making him the only Toro pitcher to record more strikeouts than innings pitched.

The “closer” role looks to be filled by committee in 2006 with Dustin Gober, Medina, and Chris Abbott (returning from 2004) all vying for the role, with all three boasting experience and talent.

Gober posted a 3.68 ERA in relief, compiling 22 innings in 10 appearances, while Brown made nine appearances last season, compiling 16.2 innings of work. In the 2004 season, Abbott tossed 32.1 innings, striking out 20 batters with two starts, one of which was a complete-game gem allowing only three runs while striking out three.

THE MEN IN THE IRON MASK
Martin Conde will be the man behind the mask this season, returning from a successful freshman campaign. During his first season in the Cardinal and Gold, Conde posted a team-best 11-game hitting streak, and was just under .300 at the plate, batting .290. Conde was a workhorse behind the plate starting over half the games, and has improved offensively and defensive this off-season.

"Martin is just a natural born leader on the field, and the guys love him," begins coach Wing. “He is the glue that holds the pitching staff together.”

Pushing Conde could be Dustin Hicks, who underwent off-season surgery and is nearly recovered. Coach Wing believes that Hicks is a talent who could, when 100% healthy, seriously challenge Conde for the starting spot. "He is an outstanding left handed hitter and is a very good catcher," Wing says.

Even if Hicks is unable to spend time behind the plate, the coaching staff will look to use his left-handed bat in the lineup as a pinch hitter, or possibly in the DH role.

IN THE INFIELD
Coach Wing is feeling good about his infield this season.

“We are real excited about our middle infield this year," begins Wing. “Our infield is basically anchored by our team captain Houston Hernandez, and he has improved immensely foot speed wise, which is something that he has really worked hard on."

In addition to hitting over .300 last season, Hernandez recorded 19 multi-hit games, including a team-best seven games with at least 3 hits.

Helping Hernandez in the middle of the infield will be freshman Cody Puckett, whose older brother is the starting shortstop at CCAA rival Cal State San Bernardino. Wing can’t help but smile when talking about his hard-working freshman, who in his mind "has done everything above and beyond what we have asked of him. He has really solidified the shortstop position."

Another new face in the infield will be San Bernardino Valley College transfer Jason Klug. The 6-1, 200 pounder is expected to help fill the power void that has been left by many departing seniors. More than just a power-hitter, coach Wing believes that Klug should hit for average as well. “He probably is one of the purist hitters we've had from the right side in awhile."

At the hot corner will by Kyle Stanley, a Hawaii Pacific transfer who "just lit it up a couple years ago," and who is expected to provide some much-needed power from the left side of the plate.

A familiar face will be returning infielder A.J. Gomez, who last season was primarily brought in for defense, but who has improved his offensively abilities for this season. In addition to his baseball talent, coach Wing is impressed by how Gomez has stepped up and become a team leader.

Garnering utility infield duties this season will be Jose Escobar, who redshirted last season. Escobar could see action at all corners as well as behind the plate, while providing some late inning power at the plate off the bench.

ROAMING THE FENCES
In addition Perez to in center, the Toro outfield will be bolstered by Cal State L.A. transfer Mateo Marquez. Last season as a Golden Eagle, Marquez was solid in the outfield, committing only two errors while recording one assist. He also showed speed offensively by swiping seven bases, legging out two doubles and a triple. Coach Wing is thrilled about the impact Marquez will make on this year’s squad.

“He is a proven ballplayer, and not only is he an outstanding hitter, but he can fly in the outfield,” Wing begins. “He is going to add so much on the base paths in addition to the plate, and we are really excited about him."

Splitting duty in left field will be a trio of fleet footed Toros in Fred Medina, Chris Hunter and newcomer Jerit Coleman. Wing predicts that all three will see innings in the outfield as well as come off the bench to pitch-run, adding even more speed on the base paths. Hunter led the team in substitution appearances last season, coming off the bench 17 times, while Medina paced non-starters in runs scored with 13, batting .302 in limited plate appearances.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
After 17 season, 400+ wins, a conference championship, a “Coach of the Year” honor, coaching conference players and both pitcher and freshman of the year, and beating cancer – by far the fiercest opponent of his life – it is hard to imagine what head coach George Wing still has left to accomplish heading into this, his 18th year.

However, one long 12-year pause later, the answer becomes obvious. After capturing the 1994 CCAA title with a 38-19 ledger, the Toros entered the NCAA Regionals with high hopes, but were quickly dismissed from postseason play.

"My trip to the regional was too short," laments Wing. “I would just love to get another opportunity to go to a regional, to be one of the top four teams going into the conference tournament. That’s our goal.”