by Amanda Stutevoss
Sports Editor
The smell of hotdogs, the sound of the fans cheering, and the loud crack of the bat signals to on-comers that the 2002 University of La Verne’s men’s baseball season has begun.
Fans filled the stands at Ben Hines Stadium last Friday to watch the Leopards begin their bid for the conference championships, as the team gained two victories in the 2002 season opener against NAIA competition Master’s College.
Coming back from a 7-1 deficit in game one, the Leopard’s offense rallied to tie the Mustangs 8-8.
In the tenth inning, the Leopards scored and gained their first triumph of the day. An all-star performance from senior relief pitcher Gil Hernandez fueled the fire holding the Mustangs scoreless for five innings, and striking out nine.
The Leopards offense was also an inferno of power, with four players, James Ortega, John Doak, Greg Garay and Ray Podesta, all having a multi-hit game.
In game two, the Leopards jumped on the Mustangs early and scored five innings in the third. There was no looking back from there, as the Leopards defeated the Mustangs with a score of 8-3.
Wednesday night the Leopards took on neighboring rival Azusa Pacific.
Although the Leopards jumped on the Cougars in the first, scoring 2 runs off of a single from junior Ray Podesta, the Leopards could not hold on for the win. Despite efforts in the top of the seventh when the Leopards put three runs on the board, the Leopards efforts left them empty handed, and they ended the game with a score of 8-5.
“Our offense on Wednesday was a direct result of not having quality at bats when it mattered the most,” said Winterburn.
“Azusa is a good team. I don’t think that we lost that game for any other reason than our offensive mentality.”
Gaining a new infield coach, a red-shirt power-hitting freshman, and new-found leadership, the Leopards are hoping for a winning season.
Ending the season with a 21-21 overall record, going 15-9 in conference, the Leopards plan to improve on last year’s outcome. The Leopards have a tough schedule this year playing some of the top teams from Division II and NAIA, along with tough competition from the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“This year I am hoping to raise the level of the program, not just in terms of wins and loses,” said Leopards head coach Scott Winterburn.
The Leopards will receive more help in the infield this year in their quest for conference champions from infield specialist Jeremy Lewis.
Lewis begins his first year at ULV after coaching at Arcadia High School for three seasons. Lewis joins second-year ULV coach Mark Rigney in the infield.
“Jeremy has done a good job with middle infield preparation. Jeremy is there to help Mark out, and has allowed the infield to receive more attention,” said Winterburn.
ULV returns 21 players from last year’s roster and adds 13 new faces in the pack.
The most eagerly awaited is red-shirt freshman, James Ortega. Ortega left La Verne last spring due to illness.
“I think that I surprised some people because I came back as a better player. I jumped right back into it,” said Ortega.
“Ortega is a red-shirt freshman who will hit in the middle of our line up,” said Winterburn. “He will be one to watch.”
“James Ortega has had great quality all throughout January. He will help complete our line-up,” said senior infielder Mark Chiappelli.
Although all eyes are on Ortega to see if he still has it, he is confident that his skill will shine through.
“I don’t look at it as pressure,” he said. “I think that it will help me step up my game.”
The Leopards are depending this year on the depth of their line-up, and their returning seniors, especially infielder Nick Lemas and catcher A.J. Garbick.
“These are the seniors that have stepped up into that leadership role,” said Winterburn. “They provide an example for the younger guys on the team, they show up and work hard,” said Winterburn.
“This is the second year that we have had Winterburn as our coach. Veterans know what to do. Last year we had no one to really step up and lead us, this year we know what to expect. I think that this has helped us speed up the process,” said Lemas.
The men’s baseball team is ready for new success. With a new attitude and more heart the Leopards main goal is to capture SCIAC.
“I have finally come to realize that this is my last year. This year I want more than a winning season,” said Lemas. “I want to win SCIAC.”
The Leopards next match up is Division II Sonoma State. Sonoma State is the No. 6 team in the nation for Divison II, according to Baseball America Magazine. Sonoma State’s team includes Aaron Parker, who was named Baseball America’s Pitcher of the Year, first team All-West Region, All-California Collegiate Athletic Association, and pre-season All-American
Parker led the team with 64 strike-outs through 79.2 innings of play, while throwing between 90-93 miles per hour.
Parker also led his team to the Division II West Region Championship game where they were defeated.
The Leopards next game is Sunday, on Ben Hines Field at 2 p.m.
