This is the second of a two-part feature previewing the Long Beach State Dirtbags’ upcoming season.
The Long Beach State offense should be able to ease the pressure put on the starting pitchers and relievers this season, with seven of nine starting position players returning.
The Dirtbags had a combined .289 batting average and logged 5.98 runs per contest last season.
“It’s a little different this year because we have so many guys back, especially on the position player side, so the familiarity was there from the beginning,” LBSU head coach Mike Weathers said.
Speedy center fielder Jordan Casas, who swiped a team-high 22 bases and hit .308 last year, said he thinks that another year of experience, combined with motivation to put behind a disappointing 2009 campaign, could be all the difference in the team’s success this season.
“I think it’s going to make a huge difference,” Casas said. “We’ve been there, we’ve been through [struggles] before. We were young last year, but I think we grew as a team a lot last year.”
Returning bats include seniors Steve Tinoco and TJ Mittelstaedt, and both could possibly make the Big West All-Conference team.
Tinoco, the projected first baseman, registered a team-high .343 batting average last year, while driving in 30 runs and striking out just 12 times in 37 games.
Mittelstaedt was one constant for the 2009 Dirtbags as he played in 52 games and posted a .316 average. The everyday outfielder led the team in RBIs (46) and had a .551 slugging percentage.
Three other players — Jonathan Jones, Derek Legg and Devin Lohman — also hit for above .300 averages.
Legg, who started at second base as a freshman, is another bat that can provide a spark offensively. He led the team with 61 hits last year and could have another big year.
Returning catcher Kellen Hoime will provide a familiar presence behind the plate for starting pitchers Jake Thompson, Andrew Gagnon and company.
“Last year, I think we struggled a lot from a pitching standpoint and we have a lot to improve on as a team,” Casas said. “But as of right now, we’re looking pretty strong, we got a new pitching coach with Troy Buckley back and he knows the game better than anyone.”
One big addition could be the switch-hitting Florida native Joey Terdoslavich who transferred from the University of Miami (Fla.).
“Joey T,” as Casas and Weathers called him, should provide some power and protection in a lineup filled with speedy, high-batting average players.
“I think he’s going to calm the middle of the lineup and is going to help whoever hits in front of him and behind him,” Weathers said. “I just think he is a big piece of us offensively because he adds a lot of dimensions.”
Terdoslavich will likely take over at third base and provide some flexibility at the designated hitter position. Returners Brandon Metzger and Tre Dennis, or freshman Juan Avila could split time at the DH spot.
Lineup flexibility may be vital because LBSU will play one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Teams on the slate include No. 3 Cal State Fullerton, No. 7 UC Irvine, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 25 Stanford, Pepperdine, Wichita State, USC and UCLA.
The Beach will host Big West Conference rivals CSUF (May 14-16) and UCI (May 28-30) in three-game series at Blair Field this season.
Weathers was quick to say that despite a tough schedule and the task of having to rebound from a down year, expectations are no different from past seasons.
“I think the only pressure we put on ourselves is because we put high marks on our program,” Weathers said. “It’s always been highly thought of. This history of the program of the Dirtbags has always been one of success.”