1996_02 Insight February 1996

              Sports
FEBRUARY 14,1996
Big-league berth
for Matt Curtis?
by Natasha A. Frazier
Staff Writer
The gar
s tied with o
Ihe bottom of the 12th inning of the
1946 Alumni game Who do you look
to in a clutch situation?
There will he no question who lo
go to in this 75th anniversary season
of Bulldog baseball: Senior catcher
Mall Curtis steps up to the plate and
hits an inside fastball high over the
-right Held wall at Beiden Field lo set
the tone for the season.
Curtis can't remember the first
time he held a baseball, but says that
he had a ball in hand before he could
walk. Matt grew up around the game
and spent many hours watching his
lather. Gene, play last-pitch softball.
Mail's lather is his biggest fan and
his family comes to every home game.
Curtis is a 6-foot, 195-pound
catcher, a standout al Visalia's Golden
West High from 1990-1992. He was
a three-year varsity starter lor coach
Tom Buckley.
"He's a longevity plaver and a
tough guy." Buckley said. "He's a Cal
Ripken kind of player. I don't remember him ever being out w ith an injury."
requires a grade poir
(.dial
The
old   V
mid :
H The
file
• Born: Visalia. California
• Arc: 21
• Number: 12
• Position: catcher, third base
• Achievements:
Four-year starter
All-WAC Western Division
first team selection;-1995
1995 Student-Athlete
scluevci
ward
■jet something out t
■Where I go will depend on how 1
play this year I'd |iisT like a chance
10 prove myself at Ihe professional
Buckley also hopes to see Curtis
continue his career alter Fresno Slale.
"I think Malt has a good chance al
the next level." Buckle) said. "He can
plav first and third base and he's a
heck of a catcher There aren't many
pro catchers who can switch-hit and
he's a great left-handed hitter"
The Visalia native describes growing up as a "diehard" Bulldog fan.
"It didn't matter whether it was
football, basketball or baseball. I
loved il all. "he said.
When the offer to play for coach
Bob Bennett came. Curtis jumped at
the chance.
"I'd always wanted to play for
Fresno Slate and when they offered
me a scholarship, it was the perfect
situation.'' he said. "I could plav near
home, in front of my family and
friends for a big'school.*'
In I 'IMS. Curtis and fellow Golden
West alumni shortstop. Ben Kcv noso.
were the onlv two Bulldogs to start
and play in all 63 games Curtishada
.337 batting average v\ ith 22 doubles.
five home runs and 40 runs baited 111
"Malt's experience can really help
our pitching stall." Bennett said. He
is very aware of the needs of the pitch-
nd  he  and Giuseppe
Off-court mayhem
hasn't hurt the gate
by Michael Spencer Not everyone in town mirrors
Staff Writer Ramirez's opinion
These kids need lo realize that
Although the Fresno Stale men's they have a responsibility to Ihe uni-
haskclbalilea-m'soll-coun antics may versily and lo the community." said
have caused some head-shaking in the James Andres, an independent busi-
coiiiiiiunitv. it hasn't led lo a decline ness broker.
at the turnstile. "When they get into trouble."
According to the Fresno Staje ticket Andres said, "il makes them, the
office, there has been a substantial school and the whole town look bad.*'
increase in season ticket sales this I here also has been grumbling
season  This year's total was 9.550 about the lack ol discipline 111 re
season tickets, an increase of 20 per spouse to the players actions
cent over last year's lotal of 7.700. "It's disappointing reading about a
"Conimuniiy  response has been player stealing from a hotel room or
even greater percentage wise than siu- punching a security guard one day.
dent response." said terry Johnson.a then watching them play on TV the
ticket-office employee next." said sophomore Jamie (irey. a
Johnson also said no season tickets liberal arts majoi
ha\ c been canceled nor any complaints "I think it speaks poorly of the
registered at his office with regard to school's priorities." Giey said
the players' olfcourt problems. Others are a bit more sejuitive lo
Much ol the renewed enthusiasm in ihe prayers' situation.
the basketball team has been generated "I think the media likes to blow
In the hinne of Jem Tarkanian. things out ol proportion, and the
' Because of Tarkanian \ reputation Fresno Bee is worse than most." said
for winning games, the excitement Mike Hamisaki. recent Fresno State-
over the Bulldou basketball team has eraduate and probation officer in
spilled over from the home games to Stanislaus county
Photo courtesy Sports Information
The versatility of Matt Curtis at catcher and third base makes him
one of the Diamond 'Dogs' key players.
"I totally trust Mall." senior pitcher got here. Bul he has made the most
Scott Nav ami said. "I don't think lhal strides in leadership and catching fun
I've ever diaken oil one ol his calls. damenlals." Bennett said. "Matt is a
"Mall spends a lot of time study- solid individual He gets good grades
ing pitchine charts and he know hit- and is responsible."
ters real well. I le can read opposing Curtis said he is determined to do
pitchers and can call a game accord- his best. His goals loi 19% include
ing to them and vv hat w ill work best another w inning season and taking a
foi the team." Navarro said. trip lo Omaha. Neb . in June loi the
Curtis is one of the lour Diamond 1996 College World Series iCWS,
Dogs who have been with ihe pro- "I would trade all of the honors I
oad ;-•
s well.
Othei
sh.ll
I!    |0|
have 1
oiheS
Clua
othei
icher.
help out with guidance."
The 1996 Bulldogs are comfortable
with hav ing the All Western Alhleti.
Conference catcher of 1995 anchor
"tng-Ujgm behind the plate
'Crown Jewel' gets ready to shine
by Derek Togerson
Staff Writer
Two out. Bottom of the last inning.
Full count, bases loaded, down by
three. The crowd is in a roaring frenzy.
Here's the pitch. It's a long fly ball to
deep left! It's going, going — tell it
bye-bye baby!
Every child dreams of hilling the
garne-winning home run in ihe last
game of the World Series.
Now. thanks to the new women's
softball stadium on the campus of
California State University. Fresno,
sports fans in the Central Valley may
have a championship series unfold
right in their backyard.
If everything goes according to plan.
the "Crown Jewel of Softball" will
bring Fresno a softball college World
Series before the next millennia. It also
will help a program already revered as
one of the best in ihe nation.
"The boosters started talking about
a new stadium around 19SS after seeing the complex in Oklahoma." said
Diane Miluiinov ich, associate athletic
director.
A lack of lighting and no sky boxes
at the old stadium caused Fresno to lose
its bid for ihe 1997 and 1998 College-
World Series, even though the new stadium will be two years old by then.
"TheJJeries committee waited to
look at us." softball coach Margie-
Wright said. "They wanted to see how
we run |the stadium] and handle the
large crowds."
According to Milutinov ich. there is
a 50 percent chance or better of
Fresno State getting the 1999 World
Series.
"This facility is one of the very best
in the nation." Wright said. "Fresno
has always done a great job running
. Fresno State women's softball
teams are no strangers to World Series play. Since the tournament debuted 14 years ago. the Bulldogs have
participated nine times. They have
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"Matt knows the system and    Curtis said.
knows whal it takes to he a winner."       Even though the Dogs arc a young
Bennett said. "He has been on three    team. Bennett thinks there is a chance
playoff teams and has had three cham-     to make it to Omaha.
pionshiji seasons, he understands        "I think lhat we are capable ofget-
what we need." ling there [CWS|. It's going to take a
In his three years at Fresno Slate, lot of hard work." Bennett said. "We
Curtis has grow n not only in his base- are going lo hav e to dig dow n and do
hall skills ivm also as a student.   ' some soul searching, hut I think we
"Matt v\.is a good hitler when he    can be contenders."
"Before ihe season started, people
talked about what we didn't have because we lost a loi of seniors." said
Curtis. "We've got speed, hitting and
pitching.
"liven though some of our pitchers
are unproven in Division I play.guys
like freshman Jeff Weaver and sophomore Mike Powell have a lol of talent. Consistency in all areas will be
the key to our success." Curtis said.
The basketball team charters a Hamisaki'sopinionofThcBee'scov-
plane to every road game tilled w ith erage.
Red Wavers who purchased the plane According to John Rich. Fresno
tickets in their season ticket packages. Bee sports editor, the Bee has received
information office. to its'coverage of the basketball team
Along with the hype, Tark's hiring "We've received mainly negative
has translated info vv ins for the team feedback regarding our coverage."
The wins seem to help the cominu- Rich said.
inly look past the off-court problems Regardless ol w hat is said about the
"As long as they keep vv inning. I'll men's basketball team, the bottom
keep going to the games." said junior line is money   Coach Tarkanian and
"What's a hotel room or two compared il this yen than in the past, despite
to a game-winning three pointer.'" the oll-coun blunders.
*
LJvejVJ'jjJc:
Wednesday thru Saturday
Mondays and Tuesdays
Sunday and Wednesday
Jim's Place1 • 430 Clovis Avenue • 299-2597
Aligning the third base support,
Vaca prepare the field for the
Feb. 24.
finished in second place four times
and taken third place twice.
The stadium will also be an ace up
Wrights
ewher
nes to r
Insight photo by Todd Warshaw
Mark Roosevelt (left) and Miguel
1996  softball  home-opener on
allow more families to attend by play-
With a possible seating capacity of
5.00(1. Fresno Slale will have'no
inline marquee
"We will have recruits see a game
in front of the Red Wave and experience all the energy involved in the
support of this team." Wright said.
With the increase in community
involvement for this season, several
of those recruits are likely to come
from the Central Valley.
"Certain sponsors have reallv earmarked soltball." said Jell Cov'.,. assistant marketing director for the university. "People have really rallied
The absence of lights on the old sta-
dium forced Fresno State lo play its
games during the day and on weekends. The new stadium's lighting will
Ihe
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\:\cn more impressive are the Bulldogs' NCAA numbers. The team has
led the nation in average attendance
lour of the last six ycars*highlighled
by the 1993 season opener against
UCLA when 3.517 tans filled the
stands This set the current NCAA
single-date record.
However, lhal record is once again
in jeopardy. The third-ranked Bulldogs
will christen the new stadium on Saturday. Feb. 24. when they welcome
hack first-ranked and defending national champion UCLA at I p.m.
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