WELL-STAFFED

The pitching is in place to carry Cal State Fullerton back to the College World Series this season.

But do the Titans have the hitting to be a serious contender for their fourth national championship?

“If we have a good record after the first four weeks of the season, we’ll know we have a good team,� Fullerton Coach George Horton said.

The Titans, ranked No. 2 by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball, play at top-ranked Stanford in a season-opening three-game series beginning Friday, then meet 10th-ranked Baylor for three games Feb. 11-13 at Titan Field.

Fullerton also will host Mississippi State, No. 9 Georgia Tech and No. 11 USC in a tournament March 3-5, as well as play midweek games against USC, No. 4 UCLA and No. 22 Arizona State.

“People are giving us a lot more credit early [in the polls] than what we’re used to,� Horton said. “I think we could be that good, but I don’t know yet. It does bring some added pressure.�

That respect is based on the return of three talented starting pitchers and a standout closer. Matt Sorensen (12-0, 4.14 earned-run average), Adam Johnson (10-4, 3.55) and Jon Smith (7-1, 3.16) won a combined 29 games last season, and reliever Kirk Saarloos (7-3, 3.63) had seven saves.

Despite the unexpected return of Chris Beck, the team’s leading hitter last season, Horton has had some concern about the hitting in preseason workouts. Last season’s team, which had a .338 batting average and averaged more than nine runs a game, was the Titans’ most productive ever.

The Titans appear to lack the power of a year ago when Ryan Owens hit 23 home runs, Spencer Oborn 14 and Reed Johnson 13. All three signed pro contracts as juniors.

Beck batted .408 with eight home runs and 75 runs driven in last season, becoming only the fifth Titan to hit above .400. Back problems kept him from signing with the St. Louis Cardinals last summer, and he was planning to retire from baseball before successful physical therapy sessions changed his mind.

“We probably don’t have as much firepower as we did with the guys we lost,� Beck said, “but with the power of the bats reduced again, there might not be as many homers by anybody. Our pitching may have to carry us early while our hitting is developing.�

Horton also thinks the new bats are “a notch below� last season, but said Beck and Aaron Rifkin are capable of more power. Rifkin had six homers and batted .378 in 1999.

Beck will shift from first base to right field to reduce the strain on his back, and Rifkin will play first base. That leaves an opening at designated hitter, and one of the top three catchers--Craig Patterson, Jeff Gates and Brett Kay--is expected to start the season in that spot.

There is a battle at shortstop between freshman Mike Martinez and junior Chad Olszanski, and the catchers likely will rotate for a while, but the lineup is mostly set.

David Bacani (.332, with seven homers and 33 RBIs) has been an All-Big West second baseman for two seasons. Shawn Norris (.286 with six homers and 34 RBIs) has moved from shortstop to third to replace Owens.

Sophomore Robert Guzman (.291) will move from right field to left, and sophomore Chris Stringfellow (.313) will be in center. Matt Belfanti, a transfer from Mendocino College, also is a potential outfield regular.

“The pitching seems to be the most consistent part of our game at this point,� Horton said.

Pitching coach Dave Serrano said he is planning a four-man rotation, adding Ronnie Corona, a transfer from Cypress College. Smith is the only left-hander. Corona posted a 12-3 record with a 2.69 ERA last year at Cypress, striking out 137 and walking only 30 in 104 innings.

Serrano said he is planning to use Sorensen as the starter in the midweek games when the season begins.

“We’re going to be getting a lot of tough competition in those games, and Matt has the ability to come back and help us in relief on the weekend if we need him,� Serrano said. “It’s flexible, of course, and we’ll see how it goes.�

Serrano said having Saarloos as a closer makes the staff that much stronger. “Based on what he’s done for us the last two years, Saarloos probably deserves to be a starter too, but we really need him as our closer,� Serrano said.

Saarloos finished 36 of his 37 appearances last season, and worked in all three Titan games in the College World Series.

Juniors George Carralejo and Mike Nunez, a transfer from San Jose College, are expected to be solid relievers. Carralejo held Ohio State to two hits and one run in five innings last season in the NCAA Super-Regional. It was only his second start of the season.

“We’re deep on the mound,� Serrano said. “But the key is keeping everyone healthy. Mental focus is going to be so important for our pitchers this season. Physically, they can measure up with anyone.�

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Titans at a Glance

Roster

PITCHERS

George Carralejo, Jr.; Ronnie Corona, Jr.; Adam Johnson, Jr.; Nick Lovato, Fr.; Sean Martin, Fr.; Jake Moon, Jr.; Mike Nunez, Jr.; Kirk Saarloos, Jr.; Jon Smith, Jr.; Matt Sorensen, Jr.

CATCHERS

Jeff Gates, Sr.; Brett Kay, So.; Craig Patterson, Sr.; Dan Mercadefe, Jr.; P.J. Pilittere, Fr.

INFIELDERS

David Bacani, Jr.; Jason Corapci, Fr.; Jake Epstein, Sr.; Louie Lamoure, Jr.; Mike Martinez, Fr.; Shawn Norris, So.; Chad Olszanski, Jr.; Aaron Rifkin, Jr.

OUTFIELDERS

Chris Beck, Sr.; Matt Belfanti, Jr.; Robert Guzman, So.; Rudy Simpson, Fr.; Chris Stringfellow, So.; Josh Weller, Jr.; Steve Woodward, Sr.

Schedule

FEBRUARY--4, at Stanford 6 p.m.; 5, at Stanford 1 p.m.; 6, at Stanford, 1 p.m.; 9, Kyung Hee University 5 p.m. (exhibition); 11, Baylor 7 p.m. (TV); 12, Baylor 1 p.m. (TV), 13, Baylor 1 p.m.; 15, USC 7 p.m.; 18, Nevada Las Vegas 7 p.m. (TV); 19, Nevada Las Vegas 1 p.m. (TV); 20, Nevada Las Vegas 1 p.m.; 29, at Pepperdine 2 p.m.

MARCH--3, Mississippi State 7 p.m.; 4, Georgia Tech 7 p.m.; USC 5:30 (TV); 7, UCLA 7 p.m.; 10, at California 2 p.m.; 11, at California 1 p.m.; 12, at California 1 p.m.; 14, at Arizona State 7 p.m.; 17, Pacific 7 p.m. (TV); 18, Pacific 7 p.m. (TV); 19, Pacific 1 p.m.; 24, at Nevada 2 p.m.; 25, at Nevada 1 p.m.; 26, at Nevada 1 p.m.; vs. Oklahoma (in Oklahoma City) 5:30; 30, at New Mexico State 6 p.m. 31, at New Mexico State 6 p.m.

APRIL--1, at New Mexico State noon; 2, Angels (exhibition) 1 p.m.; 5, at USC 6 p.m.; 7, Sacramento State 7 p.m. (TV); 8, Sacramento State (TV) 1 p.m.; 9, Sacramento State 1 p.m.; 11, at Loyola Marymount 2:30 p.m.; 14, Long Beach State 7 p.m. (TV); 15, Long Beach State 7 p.m.; 16, Long Beach State 1 p.m.; 20, at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 5 p.m.; 21, at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 5 p.m.; 22, at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 1 p.m.; 25, at UCLA 6 p.m.; 28, UC Santa Barbara 7 p.m. (TV); 29, UC Santa Barbara 7 p.m. (TV); 30, UC Santa Barbara 1 p.m.

MAY--2, San Diego State 7 p.m. (TV); 5, Nevada 7 p.m. (TV); 6, Nevada 1 p.m. (TV); 7, Nevada 1 p.m.; 9, at Cal State Northridge 2:30 p.m.; 12, at Pacific, 1 p.m.; 13, at Pacific 11 a.m.; 14, vs. Pacific (at Delta College) 1 p.m.; 16, Cal State Northridge 7 p.m.; 19, at Long Beach State 7 p.m.; 20, at Long Beach State 6 p.m.; 21, at Long Beach State 1 p.m.

TV: Orange County News Channel.