USD Baseball 1986

1986 USO PROSPECTUS JohnCunningham,entering his 23rd seasonas head coach of the Universityof San Diego baseball program. will fieldhisyoungest team ever as he tries to improve on lastyear's17-39-1 mark.Coach Cunningham,with acareer mark ol 492-489-10, returns eleven lettermen and sixstarters. The '86 squad will have a lot ofnew laces, including ten freshmen. The rest of the squad ismade up of4sophomores, 5 juniors and 5seniors. Although USO ~st seven lettermen to graduation. the key player to replace will be '85 team MVP, Paul Van Stone.Van Stone,who was dratted by the San Francisco Giants, led USO in hitting (.305),at bats (203), hits (62). RBl's (46) and total bases (103). He was second in runs scored (38), doubles (14) and triples (6). Starters back to lead the charges include senior centertie~er David Jacas. Davidbatted .299 and led the team in runs scored (47) and stolen bases (24).Sophomores Marl< Tratton (.298 BA, 8 HR's) and Sean Baron (.291 BA, 7HR's), two of the better young power hitters in the WCAC, should improve on their '85 totals. Junior shortstop RobbieRogers (.288 BA,8triples)will provide the leadershipnecessary inthe infield, and scphomore DavidRolls (.254 BA)returns at third base.John Slaught,a3-yearman,returns in righttield. Senior Tom Sizer isUSD'sonlyreturning pitcher that started more than 10games in '85.Coach Cunningham islooking for improved performances from Sizerand senior Mike David.Top newcomers tothe pitching staff include JC transfer Dan Newman (San Diego C.C.) and freshman John Bonilla(Notre Dame HS). Accuple of sleepers on the mound might be freshman JimWestlund (Wilson HS)and Tony Battilega (Bear Creek HS, Cclorado).The stopper in the bullpen hasn't emerged yet for aconcerned Cunningham. Junior catcher Dan Echeveste (.212 BA)will be put to the test early onby freshman recruit Chuck Graham (8 HR's at St. Paul HS). Two newcomersthat will sclK!ify the infield are JC transfer John Holt (also USD's possibleDH) and freshman second baseman Andy Roberts (Clairemont HS). USO,which plays arecord 35 home games thisseason,will prepare for WCAC action withnonconference opponents like Fresno State (3 games). San Diego State (2 games). UC Irvine (3 games), and Division II powers CS Northridge and UC Riverside. Geach Cunningham feels that Pepperdine is again the league favonte whrle Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara are vastly improved. St. Mary'scould have the league's most outstanding player inreliever Ken Aiensche. ~we finished last a year ago. I wouldconsider ii asuccessful season if we end up in the middle of the WCAC pack at the end. This is theyoungest team I'veever had. It's hard to predict the players transition from high schooltocollege bal!. There isadefinite possibility that sixofour nine starters will be frEJshmen and sophomores. That isawful young for a4-year school. An advantage over last year isabetter balance betweennght and lett-handed hitting. We ccu~ have four lett-handed hitters in·our lineup. We haven't had that capability inawhile.Youth could work to ouradvantage thisseason.We're going to give these freshmen achance to playand hopefullyby leaguewe'll have scmestablity inour lineup,"stated Geach .klhnCunrungham.

PLAYER PROFILES Returning Players

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DAN ECHEVESTE, C

Height: 5-8 Weight: 165 Born: 8-19-65 Hometown: Tempe, AZ High School: St. Mary's Bats: R Throws: R Class: JR

Third year at USD.. .appeared in 35 games in '85...batted .212 and had a.991 fielding average behind the plate...his leadership abilities and strong defensive skills give him inside edge on starting position at catcher. ..was All-State Honorable Mention while prepping at St. Mary's HS...1st Team All-Skyline Division as senior outfielder (.425 B.A.) .

CUNNINGHAM: "Hard worker.. .much improved over last year...has all the "intangibles" coaches are looking for...if hit- ting improves he should be our starting catcher."

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