2013 Baseball Preview: No Time Like the Present

CARSON -- After a sub-par and un-Toro like baseball season that saw the Cal State Dominguez Hills squad post an 11th-place finish in the California Collegiate Athletic Association last year after hosting the NCAA West Regional two years earlier, head coach Murphy Su'a knew changes had to be made, and make them he did.

Adding five assistant coaches to his staff and replenshing his roster with a talented contingent of 18 junior college and 3 university transfers to complement his 9 returning players after the Toros lost eight of their top 10 hitters from a season ago, Su'a will look to reverse the trend that has seen the program's overall wins decline over the past two years.

"I really like the overall make-up of our ball club. We have 21 new players on our roster this year and they all seem to work together well. We are fortunate to have tremendous leadership in both our returning players and new incoming players.

I believe we have a great bunch of guys with the skills, tools, ability and experience to make the CCAA and NCAA tournaments," Su'a says optimistically. "As long as they play and root for each other we will have as good a chance at matching up with teams in our conference and region."

Here's a look at who'll be looking to lead the Toros back to CCAA and NCAA prominence as CSUDH kicks off league play hosting perennial power Chico State this weekend.

ON THE HILL

Pitching remains the key ingredient to any team's success, and this year the Toros will rely on one true returning starter in fourth-year senior Sean Wardour. Last season, the Torrance native started all 13 games he pitched, compiling the 3rd-best ERA on the team amongst starters. He fanned 8 more batters than he walked in 69.2 innings pitched, most on the squad, and boasted two games with 8 Ks (at CSULA, 2/23 and @ SSU, 3/2), with 3 other games with at least 5 Ks.

"Wardour is our #1 starter and will lead the charge of a very talented pitching staff," Su'a begins. "Sean is throwing well and we expect him to keep us in a position to compete in every game he pitches."

A pair of JC transfers is expected to hold the Nos. 2 and 3 rotation slots, as Kevin Brown and David Haerle make the transition from junior college to D2 ball.

A 6-3 righty from Thousand Oaks, Brown led Moorpark College to the league title after tossing 7.1 innings of one-hit ball in the title game en route to holding opposing batters to just a .222 BA on the year.

At 6-2, Haerle competed for College of the Canyons after prepping at Quartz Hill HS where he earned Pitcher of the Year honors.

"Brown has the potential for immediate success in a very tough conference and will look to fill the No. 2 starter role," begins Su'a. "He competes well and we expect him to log many innings, while Haerle throws with good velocity and we are looking for big things from him."

Returning for his senior year, Matt Montgomery is slated as the No. 4 starter after seeing action in 13 games with 4 starts last year and compiling a team-best 3-2 record.

"A control pitcher with a high pitching IQ and tremendous poise on the mound, Matt will be asked to seal each series for us."

Su'a also will be counting on a deep and talented arsenal out of the bullpen, including some who may see spot starts during the long and arduous season, as well as around the horn.

True freshman Tyler Mark, JC transfer Danny Nieves and CS Fullerton transfer Dimitri De la Fuente will look to make their marks early, and will be battle tested after a pair of non-conference series heading into this week's CCAA opener hosting reigning CCAA Champion Chico State.

Mark, who was named the League MVP as a senior after thrice earning 1st-team all-league honors, already earned a stripe by notching the first collegiate win of the year against Academy of Art, with DeLaFuente also seeing action in the series.

"A great student of the game who is eager to learn, Tyler has great maturity for a freshman and will have many opportunities to show his skills as a reliever and spot starter," Su'a says, while "Dimitri has a live arm and led Fullerton's pitching staff in appearances. He will start the season as a pitcher but could also see time at catcher and 3B."

Nieves, meanwhile, who led Santa Barbara City College to consecutive league titles en route to earning a 1st-team all-league selection, "is a skilled left-handed pitcher and has the ability to pitch in many different roles. He is projected as a future starter but could immediately serve in long relief, set-up and closer roles."

A senior, returner Hector Gomez made 17 appearances with a 3-2 record and a pair of saves, while also seeing time in the outfield.

"Hector is a 'jack-of-many-trades', and as a pitcher, we look for him to put out fires, hold leads and close out games," Su'a begins. "He is not afraid to go after hitters and can field his position very well, and may also see some time in the outfield as the DH."

Another returner, redshirt sophomore Cody Yates saw action in 7 games last year in relief, tossing 15.2 innings with 13 Ks on the year. "Cody is an intelligent pitcher with good control, and will serve as a reliever this season," while redshirt junior Taylor Johnson "is throwing quite well and will get a chance to contribute on the mound" after redshirting in 2012, a season that followed leading Butte College to the league title en route to twice being named a 2nd-team all-league selection.

A quartet of talented arms rounds out the rotation with three juniors and a redshirt freshman.

Twice named a 2nd-team all-league selection Hancock College, Joseph Perez "has tremendous presence on the mound and will be our closer who should have a lot of save opportunities in the very tough CCAA."

Competing for two seasons at Pierce College before becoming a Toro this year, Fernando Gallegos is a quintessential utility player who "will see time on the mound as a reliever, and, as someone who can swing the bat very well, may also be used as an infield defensive specialist and as a catcher."

A southpaw, Brennan Bernardino "is a talented left-handed pitcher with a tremendous upside who will eventually serve as a starter but will begin by coming out of the pen against both right- and left-handed hitters," while redshirt freshman Brandon Hirschberger, who once fanned 13 batters in a complete game 3-hitter en route to leading Santa Monica HS to consecutive league titles, "will serve primarily as a lefty-lefty specialist who we won't hesitate using against right-handed hitters in crucial situations."

AROUND THE HORN

Senior shortstop Carlos Avila will lead the Toro infield and will be joined by returning senior Chris Allen, who will take over the reigns at 1B this year after seeing most of 2012 in right field.

Avila finished 20th in the CCAA in batting average, and 23rd in stolen bases in first year as a Toro after starting 37 of 39 games played in 2012, all at shortstop. The Lomita native boasted 14 multi-hit and 7 multi-RBI contests, including 3 games with 3 hits, as well as a 9-game hit streak to begin the season en route to leading the team in triples, finishing 2nd in stolen bases, and 4th in BA and hits.

Allen, meanwhile, finished 7th in the CCAA in stolen bases after starting 29 of 37 games played in first year as a Toro, mostly in right field. He enjoyed 12 multi-hit and 3 multi-RBI contests, with 4 3-hit affairs, as well as a 7-game hit streak in late April, and clubbed his first home run as a Toro against Cal Poly Pomona (March 8), the first of 2 long balls on the year while making just 4 errors on the year in 75 total chances, good for a .947 fielding percentage.

"Hitting in the middle of our line-up as someone who can play both outfield and 1B, Chris brings the power threat and leadership and we look for him to be a pace setter both on the field and at the plate," Su'a says, while "Carlos has a tremendous set of hands at shortstop and is an offensive threat for average and surprise power, and we look for him to anchor our infield and be a catalyst on offense. He runs the bases well and hits in the clutch."

Senior newcomer Ivory Thomas will look to anchor second base after starting for 3 years at baseball power Cal State Fullerton. As a Titan last year, Thomas started 41 of 48 games played, batting .258 with 34 hits, 3 doubles and a triple, as well as 19 RBI with 12 stolen bases, 2nd most on the team. This came after a sophomore season in which he batted .294 with 47 hits, 46 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 triples and home run, batting in 17 runners and swiping a team-best 20 bases.

"Ivory is a full-package player with great leadership qualities," Su'a says with a smile. "He has outstanding speed, a strong arm, great baseball sense and can hit for both average and gap power."

Third base will be hotly contested with a trio of newcomers looking to battle for the starting spot.

El Camino College transfer Peter Ives will get a good look at the hot spot after prepping at Redondo Beach HS, with Gold Glove winner Brady Conlan and 2nd-team Porterville JC selection Aaron Gray also getting their time at 3B.

"While playing mostly at 3B, Peter could play all four infield positions as he is a very tough out at the plate, with Brady and Aaron also having the ability to play all four positions as well as at the DH spot," says Su'a.

"Aaron has the potential to be a successful hitter in the CCAA Conference, while Brady is a hard-nosed player and a tremendous teammate, not to mention being another multi-talented athlete."

Returning sophomore Spencer Maxey made 4 starts in 22 games played as a freshman and will compete for playing time at 2B this year, also making 4 appearances on the bump. On the mound, the Portland native made his first appearance vs San Francisco State, and didn't allow an earned run in 4.2 innings of work on the year.

A junior from Thousand Oaks, Taylor Kahanowitch was named a 1st-team all-league selection en route to the 2012 title for Moorpark, and will battle for time at 1B.

"Spencer is a switch-hitting middle infielder with a solid glove and good arm, and has an incredible passion for the game," says Su'a, while "Taylor is a fierce competitor with a no-nonsense attitude. He's a left-handed swinger who makes consistent contact with good power and may see time on the mound in the not-so-distant future.

FIELD WORK

The outfield will have a little more familiarity to it with juniors Danny Haley and Kevin Logan in the mix, with the latter returning to the team after a one-year absence.

Haley makes his return after starting 23 of 40 games played, boasting 3 multi-RBI and 1 multi-hit effort, the latter coming against power UC San Diego on April 15.

Logan, meanwhile, returns to the Toros after a redshirt season, coming off a 2011 season that saw the Harbor City native make 19 starts in 28 games played, boasting a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.

"Kevin is fun to watch in center, and pays that position as well as any player who has come through Dominguez Hills, and that's saying a lot as we've had some special center fielders," Su'a begins. "And Danny is an outstanding outfielder who's become a very good third baseman and knows how to handle the ball well and is a very heads-up base runner."

A quintet of newcomers will vie for time at all outfield spots, with the battle for right field seemingly the most hotly contested with Tony McClendon and Bubby Rossman.

Transfering from Liberty University, McClendon made 18 appearrances for the Flames, scoring 5 runs with a pair of hits in just 9 at-bats after prepping at Damien HS, with Rossman leading Cerritos College to the league title and the super regional as a freshman en route to 2nd-team all-league honors.

"Tony has outstanding power and the potential to put up big numbers," Su'a says. "He runs well and has a strong arm, and could see some time at 1B as well." Rossman, meanwhile, "is a talented switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate, and also runs well and has a great arm so we may use him at 1B and as a DH as well as in the outfield."

The newcomer trio of Jordan Yallen, Hayden Maurice and David Steininger will look to push for playing time, with each bringing his own skill set to the Toros.

Drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of high school, Yallen earned all-league, all-city and all-county honors at Golden Valley HS before playing two seasons at Oxnard College, while a redshirt sophomore after a year at Modesto JC, Maurice earned all-league, all-district and team MVP honors after batting .443. Another award-winner, Steininger twice was named to the 1st-team at Compton College after leading Canyon Springs HS to a pair of league titles en route to two 1st-team all-league and two MVP honors.

"David has plus speed and puts a lot of pressure on defenses with his power as well, while Hayden has exceptional tools and is a gutsy player who has the ability to become a 5-tool impact player as he continues to develop as he can play all outfield positions as well as the corners," says Su'a.

Yallen, meanwhile, "will roam left field and is expected to be a major run producer for us. He has tremendous speed, is a smart base runner and can move runners around as good as anyone we have. He is also patient at the plate and will put the ball in play."

THE DISH NETWORK

Catching the Toro rotation will happen by committee, with four capable catchers all qualified for time behind the plate.

Prepping at Banning HS, local product Alex Sixtos attended Compton College for two years after leading the Pilots to a league title, while LA Harbor College transfer Rico Pena competed for the Seahawks for a season after leading Plainview HS to the district title as a prep.

Utilities Gallegos and DelaFuente also could see time behind the plate as the season progresses.

A converted infielder Sixtos "has really taken on the challenge to catch and has earned the starting role through hard work and commitment," while "Rico is a workhorse behind the plate and has learned to think and control the game and will have many opportunities to catch our pitching staff."

WALKING THE WALK

After center fielder Matt Young was drafted last year by the then World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals as the first player from the CCAA chosen in the MLB draft, Su'a knew the void was the proverbial "elephant in the room."

"Anytime you lose a talent like Matt Young, you're left with a big void to fill, but having many players taken in the MLB draft says a lot about the work put in by both our players and our coaching stafff," Su'a begins.

"We have a responsibility as coaches to recognize players with major league tools and help them refine their tools and market and promote them to MLB scouts and organizations," he continues, as 10 players under his tutelage have been taken in the MLB draft since 2007, with 18 total players having signed professional contracts.

But don't think for a second that Su'a and his staff will use the loss of Young as an excuse for not performing this year.

"Our goal is to contend in the CCAA," he says as a matter of fact. "Our coaching staff knows what it takes to make the CCAA tournament and NCAA regionals, and we've competed with teams that played in the Division II World Series so we understand the work, effort and preparation it takes to get there.

"The great thing about this ballclub is that the players have high expectations of themselves and their teammates, and as long as they play and root for each other, we will have as good a chance at matching up with teams in our conference and region.

"We really like our squad as players and young men," Su'a concludes. "They have dedicated themselves in the classroom this fall and put in equal work and enthusiasm on the ball field. We discussed the important components of success that include teamwork and working the process, and our focus is not on what we've done, but what we have become.

"Even though I wasn't surprised by the CCAA pre-season poll that picked us 9th, it fired us up to work harder, and harder, and harder. I beleve we have a great bunch of guys with the skills, tools, ability and experience to make the CCAA and NCAA tournaments, and we have been blessed to return very good players and receive talented players, so our expectation is high for our entire team."

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2013 Baseball Preview: No Time Like the Present