Lions looking for more production

Barry Faulkner

To use a restaurant analogy, the Vanguard University baseball season,

to this point, has featured too many busboys and not enough

customers.

In other words, Coach Kevin Kasper’s lineup has had more success

setting the table than dirtying the plate.

“What has been hurting us is the guys in the middle of our order,”

said Kasper, whose team has begun his ninth year at the helm 4-5, 0-2

in the Golden State Athletic Conference (one GSAC clash against The

Master’s was suspended and will be resumed March 27). “Besides

[senior first baseman and cleanup hitter] Scott Martin, we haven’t

had guys coming through for us.”

Despite Kaspar’s dissatisfaction, the Lions entered today’s

conference doubleheader at Biola having outscored opponents, 53-35.

In addition, the team’s modest batting average (.269) is 19 points

better than those trying to hit Vanguard pitching this season.

“The pitching will keep us in the majority of our games,” said

Kasper, who has four upperclassmen among his leading hurlers,

including senior right-hander Marcus Harris.

Harris, 20-14 his previous three seasons in the program, is 1-0

with a 3.16 ERA in four starts this spring. He has walked just one

and fanned 14 in 25 2/3 innings.

Junior Jason Searle, who also wields a big bat having lead the

team last year in hits (58), homers (eight), RBIs (41) and runs (37),

is another who has shown effectiveness on the bump. He has lost both

decisions, but has posted a 1.66 ERA in nearly 22 innings, covering

three starts. He has given up just 18 hits and six walks, while

striking out 11.

Mike Guernsey, a 6-6 sophomore transfer from Golden West College,

is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA and one save thus far, with 13 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings. He is a power pitcher, Kasper said.

Junior Brent Erickson, a transfer who has made stops at Orange

Coast College and Hawaii Pacific, has anchored the bullpen this

season. He is 1-2 with a 2.51 ERA, but has given up only six hits in

14 1/3 innings, with eight strikeouts.

Seniors Josh Franco and Bishop Griggs, a 6-4 lefty, are additional

relief options.

Martin, coming off a season in which he hit just .211 with three

homers and 21 RBIs, has been pacing the offense in 2004. He is

hitting .438 (14 for 32) with one homer and nine RBIs, heading into

today’s action.

“[Martin] hit the ball hard last year, but it seemed to always be

at someone,” Kasper said. “This year could be a breakthrough for

him.”

Freshmen David Hudgins (Mission Viejo High) and Adam Yoder

(Liberty High in Bakersfield) have had breakthrough debuts thus far

at the top of the order.

Yoder, a left fielder, is hitting .428 with five doubles and three

stolen bases in three attempts, while Hudgins, a second baseman, is

hitting .361 with five extra-base hits and five RBIs.

Junior Mike Sparks , a shortstop who transferred from Bakersfield

Community College, is hitting .303 with one homer and nine RBIs,

while Searle, who plays right field when not pitching, has a homer

and six RBIs.

“We don’t have a lot of power, so we can’t sit back and wait for

the home run,” Kasper said. “We need to put pressure on the defense.”

Vanguard’s defense includes sophomore Isaac Salazar in center,

junior Nikolaus Crouch, a Saddleback College transfer, at third and

sophomore Travis Westerfeld behind the plate.

Senior Jason Brunette, currently sidelined by an ankle injury, is

expected to contribute on the mound and in the outfield, Kasper said.

“I think we have a nice mix of younger players and some guys who

have been in the program,” said Kasper, who has made a concerted

effort to bring in freshmen, as opposed to college transfers, the

last two years.

“We have two freshmen and two sophomores in our starting lineup,

so there would be a tendency to think our future is bright,” Kasper

said. “But we think we can win this year and make a run at the

playoffs.”

The Lions missed the playoffs last season, after an 8-2 start

turned into a 24-26 campaign.

Kasper said a playoff run this spring will require surviving some

rugged GSAC competition.

“The past five years, this conference has gotten really strong,”

Kasper said. “Biola has won a lot, Azusa Pacific has dominated the

GSAC in its history and Point Loma Nazarene has become a very strong

team the last couple years. Westmont has struggled, recently, but the

other seven teams can all beat one another.

“That kind of parity makes it fun, but it also makes it

frustrating, because, every week, you know you’re playing a very

tough team. Top to bottom, I think this is the best [NAIA] conference

in the nation.”