2007 Baseball Preview: Young Team Looking to Build Towards Bright Future
January 21, 2007

When San Diego coaching legend Dennis Pugh agreed to coach the first-ever Cal State San Marcos baseball team, he knew it would be a challenge. After all, assembling a lineup, pitching rotation, and bullpen from scratch using mostly freshman is no easy task.

But even with the expected growing pains, the fall practice season went surprisingly well for the Coach Pugh’s squad, and the group is showing plenty of potential so far this spring.

“The kids have really bought into what we’re doing,” says Pugh. “Practice has been better than I thought. It’s been a plus.”

Pugh gives a lot of credit for the success this off-season to his assistant coaches, who have been instrumental in helping the young players develop. The staff of Pat Hause, Joe Dottore, Ryan Heil, and T.J. Merritt is “very good,” according to Pugh, and will continue to play a key role once the season gets underway.

Aside from youth – about 80% of the roster is freshmen – the Cougars’ 2007 lineup features good speed, as well as some power. Though the learning curve for the team will be steep initially, expect the squad to improve as the season progresses and players’ roles are defined.

Leading off for the Cougars will be DH Mark Leslie. The 5’5 speedster graduated from Temecula Valley High last year, where he was named a Riverside County All-Star and First Team All-CIF. He will use his speed to get on base and into scoring position so the big hitters can drive him in. Freshman Matt Jenkins, who hit .480 as a high school senior, is expected to see time at DH as well.

Batting next is second baseman Austin Way. As a junior, Way should provide veteran leadership to the squad – as well as solid defense and good base-running. Like Leslie, he’s a threat to steal bases.

Then we get to the big hitters. Sacramento State transfer Tristan Gale will start in centerfield, and has big power potential. He’ll be hitting in the crucial third spot in the lineup.

Batting cleanup will be Scott Shapiro. Standing at 6’6, Shapiro is an imposing presence both in the batters’ box and on the mound, where he’ll be the team’s #1 pitcher. According to Coach Pugh, the senior has “awesome” power, as well as great experience, having played at Santa Clara and Vanderbilt. When Shapiro is not pitching, he’ll be playing first base. Matt Jenkins will play first when Shapiro is on the mound.

Protecting Shapiro in the lineup will be left fielder Adam Ricciardulli. The 6’2 junior comes to the Cougars from Santa Ana College, and in high school helped Coach Pugh’s Mission Bay High team to a CIF Championship.

Hitting next in the Cougars lineup will be third baseman Juan Perez, a transfer from Southwestern College. He’ll share the seven spot in the lineup with right-fielder Terry Moritz. Senior Charles Baird will also see time in right.

Freshman Ian Chatfield is expected to hit eighth. The All-CIF performer will also be responsible for handling the pitching staff as the team’s catcher.

Rounding out the lineup will be shortstop Corey Ventura. The freshman from Palm Desert High hit .396 last year, and will provide the Cougars with good speed on the base paths and solid defense at short.

The pitching staff will be led by Shapiro. Though he hasn’t pitched in a couple years, the righty’s fastball still clocks in at about 92 mph. If he can master his control, Shapiro will anchor Coach Pugh’s rotation.

Junior David Julio projects as the team’s #2 starter. A transfer from Southwestern College, the 6’2 righty hurled a no-hitter in 2003 while at Montgomery High.

After those two, the pitching staff is composed of all freshmen. Eric Julienne, a lefty from Valhalla High, has secured a spot in the rotation; but after that, the coaching staff is taking a wait-and-see approach to determine who the best fits are.

“We’ll be throwing four to five guys a game early on, until everyone’s role is defined,” Pugh explains.

Though the Cougar baseball team is young, it is full of potential. The coaching staff knows that once the freshmen get their feet wet, the team will begin getting better and better. Coach Pugh expects the program, which competes independently in the NAIA’s Division I, to be very strong by its third season.

That’s not to say, however, that the squad won’t be exciting and competitive from day one. Cougar fans looking for some baseball action can catch the team’s home games at San Marcos High this season. The home opener will be on Friday, February 2nd at 2:00 PM against San Diego Christian. Parking for home games is available in the lot across the street from San Marcos High, on the corner of Discovery and San Marcos Blvd. Admission is free as always, so show your campus pride by supporting your first-ever Cougar baseball team!