Matadors Seek Partners for Dance

NORTHRIDGE — Rather than sit in a corner and mope at not being invited to the dance, Cal State Northridge baseball coaches are recruiting furiously, pruning their roster and inquiring about joining the Big West Conference.

In a supposed rebuilding mode this season, the Matadors went 42-20-1 but were snubbed by the NCAA tournament selection committee and did not make a regional.

“Recruiting is the part we’ll take care of,” said Coach Mike Batesole, who has two years left on a three-year contract. “I’ll put work into that and in time the other stuff will take care of itself.”

The NCAA does not keep records on such things, but Batesole, 33, might have more victories in his first two seasons than any Division I baseball coach. Certainly, he has the most victories of any coach with an Alanis Morissette poster stapled to the clubhouse wall next to his desk.

Northridge is 94-38-1 under Batesole, leading the nation with 52 victories last season when the Matadors won the Western Athletic Conference championship and advanced to the Western Regional final.

The success should continue. Seven high school players and three from junior colleges have committed to Northridge, and a prominent area high school pitcher is close to committing.

“What I like about Batesole is that he is going after the real blue-chip recruits and not assuming they are all going to UCLA or USC,” said Gil Kubski, a former Northridge All-American and current Baltimore Orioles scout. “He is a fearless recruiter.”

Players from the area entering the program are third baseman Eric Horvat of Hart High and infielder Matt Pesso and twin pitchers Matt and Mike Rainer of Royal. Other high school recruits are shortstop Nick Garcia of Banning, outfielder Brandon Martin of Fontana and pitcher-infielder Jon Leicester of Palisades.

The junior college recruits are pitchers Brad Foss of East Los Angeles, Dan Martinez of Oxnard and Brandon Murphy of Grossmont.

Getting the ax are two position players and three pitchers, all of whom played sparingly. Batesole told the players--Carey Novits, Brian Downing, Britt Cornwell, Mike McNeely and Ramon Ricabal--he will help them transfer to other programs.

“Bates is the coach, he’s doing what’s best for the team,” said junior pitcher Benny Flores, who was 11-3 with a 3.09 earned-run average. “He has to do this to be competitive.”

Besides shoring up the roster, Northridge wants to join a conference. The Matadors played only 17 home games against Division I teams this season.

“It’s tough getting quality teams to come here to play nonconference games, especially teams outside the L.A. area,” Batesole said.

Northridge Athletic Director Paul Bubb has received mixed messages from the Big West, a conference that would seem a natural fit for the Matadors. The Northridge softball team joined the Big West last year, but in baseball Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Sacramento State were chosen instead.

Several Big West baseball coaches and athletic directors have told Batesole and Bubb that Northridge ought to get in. But for some reason, conference officials are dragging their feet.

“I haven’t camped out in any league offices yet, but I am doing the things that should be done,” Bubb said. “There are not a lot of opportunities out there.

“The Big West is clearly our best option and one we will continue to pursue.”