Fullerton Wraps Up Region; World Series Next

BATON ROUGE, La. — It was a relatively tranquil postgame celebration for Cal State Fullerton, which defeated Ohio State, 13-1, Sunday to win the NCAA South I Region baseball championship in Louisiana State’s Alex Box Stadium.

But the fact that players weren’t jumping and falling all over each other may be an indication that this Titan team will fare better in the College World Series than the 1990 team, which swept the Central Region at Texas and was swept out of Omaha in two games.

“Our job is not done--it’s not time to party yet,” said third baseman Phil Nevin, who had two hits and scored three runs Sunday. “You could sense that after the game. There was no big dog pile on the field. There were hugs and pats on the butts, but basically we see this as a big step toward a goal. We’re not satisfied.”

Nevin, second baseman Steve Sisco, who had two hits and six RBIs Sunday, and pitcher James Popoff, who gave up six hits in seven innings to gain the victory over the Buckeyes, are the only holdovers from that 1990 team.

The Titans (42-15) did a job on their South I Region opponents, though. There wasn’t much noise in the stadium--LSU’s Tigers were eliminated Saturday, a crowd of 891 turned out for the title game.

The Titans racked up 14 hits against three Ohio State pitchers, four of them doubles. Nevin, Sisco, designated hitter Tony Banks, first baseman D.C. Olsen, shortstop Nate Rodriquez and catcher Jason Moler, the tournament’s most valuable player, each had two hits.

The Titans, who have won 12 consecutive regional playoff games and will be making their seventh trip to Omaha, hit .333 with 35 runs, 46 hits, three homers, eight doubles and seven stolen bases in four South I Region victories.

Fullerton’s offensive performance was reflected on the all-tournament team, which included Sisco, Nevin, outfielders Jeremy Carr and Chris Powell, Moler and Banks. Powell hit .538 (seven for 13) and scored seven runs.