Northridge Coach Off to Fresno

Cal State Northridge baseball Coach Mike Batesole, who led the Matadors to the Big West Conference title this season, was hired Tuesday as coach at Fresno State. Batesole, 38, will coach the Matadors for the rest of the season. Northridge plays Maine in the first round of the NCAA regionals Friday at USC’s Dedeaux Field.

Batesole is replacing Bob Bennett, who retired after 34 seasons and 1,302 victories. Fresno State has had two coaches since 1948. “The community and the university are really something special,” Batesole said. “The athletic department has some momentum rolling. The attendance is outstanding and the facilities are the best in the West.”

Batesole, who was named Big West coach of the year, interviewed for the opening two weeks ago. Clemson assistant Tim Corbin was also a candidate but reportedly backed out on Friday. “I knew that this was an opportunity for him,” Northridge Athletic Director Dick Dull said. “We’ve had a dialogue about this as long as five or six months ago. He indicated to me that this was his dream job.”

Batesole is 255-156-1 in seven seasons at Northridge. In 1996, the Matadors won 52 games, won the Western Athletic Conference title and reached the NCAA West Regional final.

Batesole is credited for leading the program back to its current level after it was cut along with three other sports in June of 1997. Those sports were reinstated a month later but many baseball players transferred to other schools.