Vanguard undermanned, but optimistic

Barry Faulkner

First-year Vanguard University baseball coach Scott Mallernee said

his emphasis on character and integrity were key reasons he was

awarded the job in June.

And with a 19-man roster that includes only seven full-time

pitchers, the 2005 season could be an exercise in character building

for all those involved in the Lions’ program.

Mallernee has worked for programs in the Southeastern Conference,

the Big 12 and the Big Ten, where he toiled as a volunteer assistant

the last two seasons at Michigan.

In his initiation to West Coast baseball, he said he is eager to

lead his team against the stout challenge provided by the Golden

State Athletic Conference.

“From everything I hear, this is the Pac 10 of the NAIA,” said

Mallernee, who takes over for Kevin Kasper. Kasper resigned after

nine years, following a 13-35 mark last spring, 6-22 in conference.

“But I’m excited and I have no question we’ll compete in the

conference,” Mallernee said. “We don’t have a lot of depth, but we

have some key guys at the key positions.”

Leading the returners is sophomore left-fielder Adam Yoder, who

earned all-conference and all-region recognition after hitting a

team-high .357 last season. Yoder also led the Lions with 14 doubles

and 12 stolen bases (in 13 attempts), while producing 12 RBIs.

“He’s a great player and a great leader on the team, because he

does everything well and he does everything the right way,” Mallernee

said.

Junior center fielder Isaac Salazar also figures to be a spark

plug for the Lions. He hit .301 with 13 RBIs and seven steals last

spring.

Those were the only prominent offensive contributors among the

returners from a squad that hit .264 and had just 17 homers to its opponents’ 38.

The top two power hitters from last season are both gone. Scott

Martin hit .296 with four homers and 34 RBIs, while Jason Searle hit

.283 with five dingers and 32 RBIs.

Senior infielders Nik Crouch (.260 with two homers and 22 RBIs)

and Mike Sparks (.257 with two homers and 20 RBIs) are the top run

producers among the returners.

Crouch is the probable starter at third base and can also play

first.

Sparks, who played shortstop last season, will see time at third

and second this spring, as senior Aaron Barret takes over at short.

Mallernee calls Barret, whose collegiate stops include New Mexico,

where he was a kicker on the football team, and freshman Shea

Alderete, a transfer from Concordia where he did not play baseball

last season, two of his top newcomers.

Alderete, who Mallernee said had a great off-season, is projected

to be the designated hitter and could hit cleanup.

Sophomore Joe Candelaria is another candidate at second base,

while the catching chores figure to be shared by juniors Travis

Westerfeld and Buck Grant, a San Clemente High graduate who

transferred from Lubbock Christian, an NAIA school in Texas.

Sophomore right fielder Matt Vorhees, who hit just .150 in 40

at-bats last season, has the potential to have a breakout season,

Mallernee said.

“He’s one of our most talented players,” Mallernee said. “He can

run, hit for power and he has a great arm. He has a chance to be a

really, really good player.”

Kyle Franz, a 5-foot-5 freshman from Fresno, provides depth in the

outfield, where freshman utility man Luke Iverson may also see time.

Junior Mike Guernsey, a 6-6, 235-pound right-hander, led the

pitching staff in wins last season, when he was 5-5 with a 6.55 ERA

in 67 1/3 innings.

“He throws the ball in the upper-80s, he locates and he has three

pitches he throws for strikes,” said Mallernee, whose playing

background is as a catcher, but has worked with all positions in his

coaching career.

Todd Merz, a sophomore transfer from the University of the

Pacific, is a left-hander who could also start on the mound, while

senior Brent Erickson, senior Robert Klein and junior transfer Clay

Brown are additional starting candidates.

But with just seven full-time pitchers, the distinction between

starter and reliever could change daily, Mallernee said.

Erickson posted the top ERA last season among returners (4.99 in

22 appearances that covered 48 2/3 innings). He had both of the

team’s saves, but won just one of his seven decisions.

Klein was 0-6 with a 7.89 ERA last spring in 51 1/3 innings.

Junior returner Matt Franco made eight pitching appearances last

season, when he also had 65 at-bats as a part-time position player.

He will focus exclusively on pitching this season.

Mallernee said freshman Andrew Riddle is a potential closer who

has great potential.

The Lions open the season Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Cal State Dominguez

Hills and begin the conference season Feb. 11 at home against

Concordia.