ALWAYS A GAMER CAMPOS JUGGLES ROLES OF FATHER, USC PITCHER.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer Pitching without fear on what he concluded was ``probably the best mound in Los Angeles'' suggested to Cory Campos that no situation was too difficult to overcome. Even becoming a father at a young age. Or having no other choice but to play at a junior college. Or battling to find his place on a nationally ranked Division I college baseball College baseball is baseball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. Compared to American football and basketball in the United States, college competition plays a less significant contribution to cultivating team. Campos, USC's best relief pitcher relief pitcher n. Baseball A pitcher who replaces another during a game. Noun 1. relief pitcher - a pitcher who does not start the game fireman, reliever , isn't fazed faze tr.v. fazed, faz·ing, faz·es To disrupt the composure of; disconcert. See Synonyms at embarrass. [Middle English fesen, to drive away, frighten by life's daily struggles. The junior has won four games and saved five more for the Trojans, who play host to Brigham Young at 3 p.m. today to open NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Regional play at Dedeaux Field Dedeaux Field is a college baseball stadium in Los Angeles, California, and the home field of the University of Southern California Trojans baseball team. The stadium holds 2,500 people and was built in 1974, the year USC won its record fifth consecutive College World Series title. . USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. coaches didn't expect much from Campos, who was unimpressive in fall practices. However, injuries to relievers Brian Bannister Brian Bannister (born February 28, 1981) is a starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball. He is the oldest son of former major-league all star pitcher Floyd Bannister. Amateur Baseball Bannister was born in Scottsdale, Arizona. and Fraser Dizard opened doors for several untested pitchers. Some failed to seize the opportunity. Campos didn't. He has the principal quality of an effective relief pitcher: He throws strikes. He has 55 strikeouts and just 15 walks in 51 innings. ``At the end of the fall, nobody could predict that he could position himself to make the contributions that he's made,'' USC head coach Mike Gillespie There are 3 sports coaches with the name Mike Gillespie:
Baseball had long been the most important thing in Campos' life when he climbed the sacred Dodger Stadium • • [ mound and pitched his Wilson High of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. team to a 1-0 victory over South Gate in the 1998 City Section 3-A championship game. Today, the sport is second to 1-year-old son Isaiah, who serves as his inspiration. ``I think if I'm going to help my son out, then I have to make it my life,'' Campos said. ``Let it take me as far as I can. Other than my son, I try to make baseball the most important thing I can do.'' In the months before Isaiah was born on June 20, 2000, Campos' life took what seemed to be a significant turn. He was a better-than-average junior college pitcher at L.A. City College with Division I stuff. However, he and girlfriend Stacey Lira were expecting their child; at 19 years old, he felt he had to pursue a permanent job to support his family. And he seemed to have a future as a salesman at a Toyota dealership in Alhambra. He had a knack for the job. Then, when Isaiah came into his life, the urge to remain in school and pursue his baseball career proved to be too strong to resist. ``I always wanted to come here, get a degree and play at the D-1 level,'' Campos said. ``I had that dream and Isaiah kind of helped influence it. He reminds me not to fail. Not doing bad (in baseball). Just not giving up.'' The young family doesn't have it easy, but they have a lot of support. They live in a house rented from Stacey's mother. Cory's parents, Teri and Manuel Campos Manuel Campos was born in 1990. He began his musical studies at Escola de Música da Sociedade Filarmónica Vestiariense and subsequently studing percussion at Conservatorio Nacional de Música de Lisboa and at Escola Profissional de Música de Espinho. , pitch in. And Campos' grandmother is Isaiah's regular baby sitter. Campos also does what he can in the day-to-day duties of a father, even if it means ducking out of an afternoon practice a few minutes early sometimes to pick up Isaiah from his grandmother's. ``I think what it offers our program is here you have a guy whose life is nothing but normal and carries this responsibility,'' USC pitching coach Dave Lawn said. ``He's performing well and he's taking on the added duties of being a student-athlete and taking care of his son. It's not as if he's pawning it off on somebody else.'' Whenever Isaiah is in the stands at Dedeaux Field, his dad scans the grandstand for a glimpse of the main reason he's able to juggle schoolwork, baseball and parenthood. Campos' head coach at L.A. City College in 2000, current Cal State Northridge pitching coach Steve Rousey, recalls one conversation he had with Campos when he learned the player was going to be a father. ``I said, 'Cory, you're going to do two things: You're going to give your child and the mother your very best until your last breath,' '' Rousey said. `` `And you're going to get a degree.' I don't think I really needed to say that to him. He's just a young man with tremendous character and it's surfacing.'' NO. 1 USC TROJANS
2002 record: 34-22 Bid: Automatic, Pacific-10 Conference The Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) is a college athletic conference which operates in the western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I. Membership Full members champions Head coach: Mike Gillespie, 642-354-2 (16th season) Why they'll win: Unlike the three remaining teams here, the Trojans know what it takes not only to win a regional but get to the College World Series, which USC has been to the past two seasons. Five starters - 1B Bill Peavey (.355, 14 homers, 68 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in ), 2B Anthony Lunetta (.273, 23 RBI), SS Michael Moon Michael Moon is an American literary academic, formerly a professor in the English department at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, United States. He currently works in interdisciplinary studies at Emory University. He previously taught at Duke University. (.347, six homers, 54 RBI), C Alberto Concepcion Alberto Conception, Jr. (born April 18, 1981 in Torrance, California) is a catcher in Minor League Baseball who plays for the Jacksonville Suns in the Double-A Southern League. (.383, 11 homers, 46 RBI) and CF Brian Barre (.325, 11 homers, 37 RBI) - were regulars last season. And USC is capable of scoring runs in bunches. Preseason All-American P Anthony Reyes Anthony Loza Reyes (born October 16, 1981 in Whittier, California) is a right-handed pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals organization of Major League Baseball. Reyes is a Whittier, California native. (4-1, 3.08) is healthy and at full strength after starting the season with a sore elbow. And the home-field advantage could make the difference. Why they won't: After Reyes, the pitching is inexperienced. Nobody among freshmen Matt Chico Matthew Bryan "Matt" Chico (born June 10, 1983 in Fullerton, California) is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. A graduate of Fallbrook Union High School, Chico attended Palomar College and was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks (6-4, 5.45) and Brett Bannister (7-3, 3.81) and junior Cory Campos (5-2, 4.02, five saves) has been in this setting before. USC's defense has committed too many errors (99) and can't afford to give teams extra outs. Moon over Metropoulos Michael Moon's ninth-inning, two-run homer in last season's regional to beat Pepperdine, arguably the most dramatic moment in Dedeaux Field's rich history, is further magnified by the fact Moon was a freshman. Maybe Joey Metropoulos will be this year's freshman hero for the Trojans. Not that he hasn't already paid his dues. Metropoulos, an All-Pacific-10 Conference pick, rallied from a slow start to hit .358 with 13 homers and 63 RBI and is playing well with a veteran USC lineup that has plenty of postseason experience. ``He was the `big' recruit coming in. Everybody knew there was this Metropoulos guy from San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. ,'' Moon said. ``What's he going to be like? How's he going to hit? This isn't exactly a team where you can be a freshman and just walk in and be the big guy on campus.'' But Moon's homer off ensuing first-round draft pick Noah Lowry Noah Ryan Lowry (born October 10 1980 in Ventura, California) is a left-handed starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. With only average velocity on his fastball, Lowry was not widely regarded as a top prospect, and did not make Baseball of Pepperdine pushed the Trojans toward the College World Series and that freshman was the toast of Troy. Can Metropoulos earn that celebrity status this weekend? ``I've got a lot of experience now. Once you see the good players from like Stanford and the other top schools that we've played, you've seen good competition,'' Metropoulos said. ``You get comfortable and relaxed. And good stuff happens when you're relaxed.'' NO. 2 CSUN CSUN California State University Northridge MATADORS 2002 record: 40-15 Bid: Automatic, Big West Conference champions Head coach: Mike Batesole, 218-141-1 (seventh season) Why they'll win: The Matadors are on a roll, winning 18 of their last 20 and dominating the Big West Conference with a 19-5 record. There are tough outs up and down the lineup, with the 3-7 spots a nightmare matchup in 2B Shaun Larkin (.364, 15 homers, 48 RBI, 56 walks), RF Eric Verbryke (.335, 14 homers, 52 RBI), 1B Tim Arroyo (.309, 10 homers, 48 RBI), C Jason Allec (.329, eight homers, 44 RBI) and CF Adam Nikolic (.310, 37 RBI, 17 stolen bases). The pitching staff has been boosted by Matt Larson's (6-2, 3.97) move into the starting rotation and Andy Davidson's (11-2, 4.09) effective work in the bullpen. Bill Murphy William R.W. "Bill" Murphy (born May 9, 1981 in Anaheim, California) is a left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Murphy attended Arlington High School in Riverside, California. (9-3, 3.43) is the quintessential ace. The Matadors won't be intimidated by playing on the road (11-1 in Big West games) and this team believes it can win. Why they won't: Outside of Larkin (Texas Tech in 2000), nobody has played in a regional and it could be a factor in a tight game. The Matadors' offense was up and down in the last two weeks but was bailed out by their pitchers most of the time. None of the other Big West schools possessed an offense as potent as USC's. Like the Trojans, CSUN doesn't play great defense (85 errors). Regional tuneups Two key Big West victories, 10-8 over Long Beach State on May 12 and 11-6 over UC Irvine on May 18, might benefit Cal State Northridge in this weekend's regionals, which always tests teams' pitching depth. In both games, the Matadors used their top three pitchers, Bill Murphy, Kameron Loe Kameron David Loe (born September 10, 1981 in Simi Valley, California) is a Major League Baseball player for the Texas Rangers. At 6'7" tall, Loe is one of the tallest players in the game and also has a 7 foot boa constrictor named Angel which he keeps in the Rangers clubhouse. and Andy Davidson Andy Davidson may refer to:
Those three, along with junior Matt Larson, could be used in relief throughout the weekend, even on a day's rest or even less. ``That was a team win,'' coach Mike Batesole said of the Long Beach game. ``And that's what this is all about is guys like Kameron is going above and beyond. And Andy's been going above and beyond all year. Those guys making those guys of sacrifices for us as a team. If we get through this weekend, that's what will carry us through.'' NO. 3 MAINE BLACK BEARS The University of Maine Black Bears are the athletic teams which represent the University of Maine. They compete in NCAA Division 1 athletics, with the majority of the teams playing in the America East Conference. 2002 record: 40-15 Bid: Automatic, America East Conference The America East Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I. tournament champions Head coach: Paul Kostacopoulos, 177-135 (sixth season) Why they'll win: The Black Bears could be inspired by the school's past history, which includes seven College World Series trips. Maine's program is on the upswing again. Junior C/3B Joe Drapeau (.345, 11 homers, 59 RBI) gives Maine a dangerous power threat. The Black Bears can be dangerous the first two rounds with dependable and durable SP Mike MacDonald (7-2, 3.10) and Mike Collar (8-3, 3.56). They've combined for 15 complete games. Winning the America East tournament through the losers' bracket suggests the Black Bears have the pitching depth to win the regional. Why they won't: The Black Bears didn't play a strong schedule, and one of their only legitimate opponents, No. 2 Clemson, recorded a three-game sweep by a 29-3 combined score. So playing in the same regional as two top-25 teams is a challenge. Cal State Northridge and USC have powerful left-handed hitters in their lineup and are sure to test the right-handed MacDonald and Collar. NO. 4 BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS 2002 record: 29-29-1 Bid: Automatic, Mountain West Conference tournament champions Head coach: Vance Law 96-80-1 (third season) Why they'll win: With a .500 record, the Cougars have nothing to lose so they should be loose for the opener against USC. They had to play six games in four days in the conference tournament so they're used to the brutal regional schedule, especially if they're forced into the losers' bracket. Law, a 10-year major-league infielder and outfielder, prefers to be aggressive on the bases rather than ``sit back and wait for a three-run homer.'' BYU's running game will test Trojans' C Alberto Concepcion, having stolen 98 bases, 29 by 2B Cameron Coughlan (Malibu High). Five Cougars have at least 42 RBI, led by 1B Dave Jensen's (.393) 64. BYU BYU Brigham Young University BYU Bayou BYU Bob's Your Uncle BYU Bayreuth, Germany - Bindlacher Berg (Airport Code) BYU Beyond Your Understanding played in the NCAAs last season and has valuable regional experience. Why they won't: The Mountain West is not one of the nation's elite conferences, and BYU went 0-5 against 2002 postseason teams Texas Tech, Stanford and Notre Dame. Provo, Utah's high elevation, along with other Mountain West schools like New Mexico, Air Force and Utah contributed to the Cougars' .320 team batting average. It also has a lot to do with a hefty 6.74 staff ERA, the highest in the regional. BYU has committed 113 errors. - Chris Cocoles CAPTION(S): photo, 8 boxes Photo: Trojans reliever Cory Campos finds inspiration in his 1-year-old son, Isaiah. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer Box: (1) NO. 1 USC TROJANS (see text) (2) NO. 2 CSUN MATADORS (see text) (3) NO. 3 MAINE BLACK BEARS (see text) (4) NO. 4 BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS (see text) (5) 2002 CSUN ROSTER (6) CSUN STATISTICS (7) 2002 USC ROSTER (8) USC STATISTICS |
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