Contenders

Steve Virgen

UC Irvine has gone from novelty act to respectable ballclub, from

baby steps to giant strides. Now, as it he4ads into the 2003 season,

the Anteaters’ baseball team is expecting to make the leap to become

a mainstay among the elite.

Coach John Savage has his Anteaters set to thrive in the

challenges that are produced from playing in the Big West Conference.

The ‘Eaters are picked to finish third in the Big West in the

coaches’ preseason poll. They are behind Cal State Fullerton and Long

Beach State.

An indication of the power of the Big West: Fullerton defeated No.

3 Stanford, Friday and Saturday, while Long Beach State took down No.

8 Arizona, Friday. Fullerton began the season ranked No. 13 in the

nation and the 49ers were No. 16.

Savage wants his team to, as they say, rise to the occasion.

“It’s our time to really step up and be a prominent member of that

conference,” said Savage, whose team will begin its second season

after a 10-year hiatus. “We want to get in that upper echelon. My

expectations are higher. You win 33 games, you get predicted to

finish third, everybody thinks you’re going to be better, and so our

players want to be better. They know we didn’t accomplish what we

wanted to at the end of last year.”

After being without baseball since 1992, UCI reinstated the sport

and the baseball team began again last year. The Anteaters went

33-26, 14-10 in the Big West, and finished in a fourth-place tie with

Fullerton. UCI defeated Pac-10 champion USC, and also recorded wins

over UCLA, California and BYU. The Anteaters won six out of eight

conference series.

Savage wants more. He is expecting it. He helped design a ballpark

that would cater to the Anteaters’ strengths. He also produced a

schedule that should not only speed up the growing process, but

provide UCI an opportunity to gain prominence.

The Anteaters will open their season Tuesday at 6 p.m., when

Fresno State comes to Anteater Ballpark. The Bulldogs are under the

guidance of first-year coach Mike Batesole, who led Cal State

Northridge to a Big West title last season. UCI will also face

Arizona, West Coast Conference champion University of San Diego, No.

17 Baylor, Coach Tony Gwynn’s San Diego State squad, USC, No. 25

California, No. 12 Arizona State, Washington and Washington State in

the nonconference schedule. Then, the Anteaters will tackle the Big

West.

“With me being at USC, that helped me form relationships with

other programs,” said Savage, who was the Trojans’ pitching coach and

recruiting coordinator before coming to UCI. “They hear about us, and

they know we’re only going to get better. We’re going to have to get

better with this schedule. We have the schedule to get where we want

to. We’re at a place that there’s nothing in the way for us to be

successful, only we have to win. We have to keep up with the

schedule.”

This season, the Anteaters will have 26 returning players and 14

newcomers who are anxious to conquer the goals Savage has placed

before them. The new-look ‘Eaters will be much like last year’s --

solid pitching and defense -- yet Savage is also expecting improved

power.

“We play extremely hard,” Savage said. “Our defense is going to be

above average again. I think our pitching is deeper than last year,

even though we lost (Sean) Tracey (to the Major League Baseball

Draft). We’re going to have a little more power. One thing we didn’t

have a lot of last year was offensive production. That’s going to be

a year stronger. I’m hoping our on-base percentage will be higher,

our strikeouts will be down and we’ll produce more runs. There is

pretty good pitching and defense, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed

on what we’ve seen offensively because, so far, we like what we see.”

Here’s an in-depth look:

* PITCHING

The Anteaters’ strong pitching staff will be led by sophomore

Glenn Swanson, who earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American

honors last year. The left-hander finished the year with an 8-5

record, a 4.44 ERA and was among three UCI pitchers to record more

than 80 strikeouts.

UCI lost Sean Tracey, who was drafted by the Chicago White Sox,

but Savage remains confident with the likes of sophomore Brett Smith,

one of Baseball America’s Top 50 college sophomores. Sophomore

Michael Koehler, who was the Anteaters’ primary closer and posted a

team-high six saves, is expected to be a starter this year.

In addition, the ‘Eaters will feature potential freshmen starters

Chris Nicoll and Kris Krise. Nicoll was drafted by the Toronto Blue

Jays in the 43rd round, while Nicoll (6-foot-6, 230 pounds) was

drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 43rd round.

The Anteaters are also excited about Paul French, who shut out

opponents in 19 of 26 2/3 innings of relief last year. He was also

second on the team with 88 strikeouts. French is expected to provide

leadership as a senior working with a young pitching staff.

“Paul has had a good fall,” Savage said. “He is extremely

consistent and we expect a big year out of him.”

The Anteaters’ pitching also includes redshirt freshman Eddie

Degerman, who has been a surprise recently, and depth coming from

seniors Keith Raulinaitis, Phil Tripoli and sophomore Jimmy Alstot.

Right-handers Mike Davern, Steve Schroer, Warren Chenier and Adam

Colton, as well as left-handers Matt Millett and Ryan Edell, are

expected to bolster the staff.

* INFIELD

Sophomore Matt Anderson, one of UCI’s top returning players, will

move from first base to third. Last year, Anderson led the team with

91 hits and 57 runs scored to earn second-team All-Big West

Conference honors. With the move, Savage hopes to open up first base

for sophomore Jaime Martinez.

Savage said there will be a battle at shortstop. B.J. Eucce, a

senior, returns. He had 37 runs on 49 hits last year. Savage also

said freshman Kyle Ryckebosch, a walk-on from Reno, has shown

potential.

Sophomores Brett Dalton and Gregg Wallis, as well as transfer Matt

Fisher, a second baseman from the University of Oklahoma, provide

several options at second base. At third base, senior Steve Guthrie

provides depth. Last year, he contributed 60 hits and 23 RBIs.

Freshman Matt Falk, who was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in

the 38th round, has experience at first and third.

* CATCHERS

The Anteaters lost Chris Miller, who was a 12th-round selection by

the Chicago Cubs. Miller is UCI’s single-season home run leader after

recording 12 last year. He also batted .311 with 55 RBIs.

Freshman Mark Wagner is expected to fill the void. Wagner, a

four-time All-CIF honoree, led Mayfair High to the Suburban League

title last year. He was drafted in the 29th round by the Atlanta

Braves and was ranked 24th among Baseball America’s Top 50 college

freshmen.

“Wagner is a very offensive player,” Savage said. “His catching

skills are really starting to get much better. With the help of

(assistant) coach (Joe) DeMarco. (Wagner) has good power to all

fields. We think we really have a gem as a freshman behind the plate.

That’s probably the most difficult position to play on the field in

Division I, that and shortstop. If you have a good catcher and

shortstop you usually have a good team. There’s going to be a lot of

expectations from Mark to step in and be the guy right away.”

Junior Jeff Werhun, who appeared in five games last year, is known

for his defense and is also expected to contribute.

* OUTFIELD

The Anteaters will be led by seniors Jon Horwitz and Chris Klemm.

Horwitz, who returns as the team’s leading hitter at .388, earned

second-team All-Big West Conference laurels last year. Klemm will be

making the move from right to left field. He put up 37 hits, 27 RBIs

and a .389 batting average in 24 conference games last year. He also

earned honorable mention honors in the Big West last year.

Sophomore Jordan Szabo and freshman Marvin Lowrance will likely

share time in right field, while sophomores Erik Johnson and Danny

Miramontes will provide depth.

Redshirt freshmen Andy Amara, Herman Reddick and true freshmen

Gary Dudrey and Danny McCarthy will all look to make an impact this

season.