NOAH GODWIN
Assistant Sports Editor
“We want more dog piles,” junior pitcher James Johnson said.
That attitude just about sums up the outlook and goals of the 2005 edition of Pepperdine baseball.
Last season ended with a loss to eventual national champion California State University, Fullerton, but not before the Waves won the West Coast Conference Tournament on a dramatic walk-off home run by now-departed Cory Brightwell.
By Head Coach Steve Rodriguez’s own admission, the Waves lost to Fullerton because Pepperdine ran out of pitching on the final day.
This season the Waves will be without the services of pitcher Jacob Barrack, who was lost to graduation, but Pepperdine might have a deeper pool of quality pitchers this season.
Senior right hander Kea Kometani is the ace of the staff following his honorable mention all-conference performance last season. Kometani went 8-6 with a 4.05 ERA last season.
The other pitchers competing for permanent spots in the rotation include juniors Johnson (1-2, 5.67), Paul Coleman (2-1, 7.32), sophomores Mike Craig (1-0, 6.89) and Robert Della Grotta (1-6, 6.35) and senior right hander Nelson Caraballo.
Caraballo is making the switch from behind the plate to the mound following elbow surgery.
Newcomers Jason Dominguez, Barry Enright and Adam Olbrychowski are also expected to give the Waves solid innings.
“That’s what this season will ultimately come down to whether or not we have enough guys step up who can give us solid innings,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez has the luxury of one of the best closers in the West Coast Conference in senior Steve Kleen, who went 4-3 with a 4.07 ERA and eight saves.
Kleen also provided the punch in the lineup, hitting .373 with seven home runs and 56 RBI. He is expected to move to first base this season according to Rodriguez.
Joining him around the diamond are junior shortstop David Uribes, senior third baseman Patrick Rooney and junior second baseman Nick Kliebert.
Anchoring the infield is sophomore catcher Chad Tracy, who could compete for all-conference honors this season following a big freshman year.
The outfield should also be an advantage for the Waves, with sophomore Luke Salas (.340) and newcomers Adrian Ortiz and Jason Dominguez.
Ortiz and Dominguez have both been picked by coaches to be among the top-three newcomers in the conference.
Adding depth to the outfield are senior Ryan Beglin (.200) and juniors Taylor Klosowski (.270) and Brandon Daguio (.184).
“Our position players have talent and experience, so we fully expect good run support and defense behind our pitchers,” Rodriguez said.
The season opens Friday at University of California, Santa Barbara, and the series returns to Malibu on Saturday before going back to Santa Barbara on Sunday.
The non-conference schedule includes defending champion Fullerton, as well as national powers Tulane University, University of South Carolina, University of Southern California and Long Beach State.
Pepperdine was picked by the coaches to finish second in the WCC to Loyola Marymount University, but that has only served as motivation for some players.
“We know we’re not expected to win conference this year, but that just gives us more incentive to work harder and prove people wrong,” Salas said.
02-03-2005
