CSUN'S HOME RUN; THE BASEBALL PROGRAM IS UNDERFUNDED, UNDERRATED AND UNDERSIZED, BUT IT KEEPS ON WINNING.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

When the administration cut baseball, along with three other sports, in the spring of 1997, it could have crippled the program.

Although Cal State Northridge decided to bring the sports back a month later, the stability of the programs were tested.

Two years after the fiasco, CSUN's baseball program is doing more than surviving. Despite inadequate facilities, limited funding, no conference affiliation and a lingering public relations nightmare, baseball is flourishing.

Coach Mike Batesole, whose team begins practice Jan. 4, signed seven recruits during last month's early period. He's projecting the 1999 recruiting class to be monstrous in impact.

``Everyone who's played there really cares about the program,'' said Harvard-Westlake High coach Josh Smaler, who played at CSUN in 1994 and 1995. ``No matter who you play for, Mike Batesole or (Bill) Kernen, or when you played, everyone has been through the same thing, the same type of stuff.''

In the three years Batesole's coached the Matadors, 10 players went from being baseball refugees to draft picks and three players from the '96 team are on the verge of making the major leagues.

That's where the strength of CSUN's baseball team lies, inside the alumni fraternity. The annual alumni game brings so many former players back that Batesole had to call for more seats for the dugout last year.

``That alumni game is great, just awesome,'' said catcher Robert Fick, a member of the '96 Matadors who could win a big-league job with the Detroit Tigers. ``Everybody keeps in touch. That's why the program remains successful.''

During a recent workout, nearly a dozen former players, each keeping in shape for spring training, returned to CSUN.

Those players not only speak to the current players about the importance of CSUN, baseball, academics and what-have-you, but also to the future, be it baseball-related or not.

And they also drag friends from other organizations with them. A few weeks ago Fick brought outfielder Gabe Kapler, a Taft High and Moorpark Junior College product and the top prospect in the Tigers organization, to a workout.

``I know I'll be able to get a solid day of work in here,'' Kapler said. ``You look around, and this program produced Rob Fick. He's the best hitter I've ever seen. It's sick the way he can hit. Growing up here you know about it.''

The San Fernando Valley, loaded with baseball talent, is what allows the Matadors to remain successful despite enormous financial restrictions. Eleven of the Matadors played their high school baseball in the area.

``It's not surprising how successful they've been with all the talent in the Valley,'' Chatsworth High coach Tom Meusborn said. ``You still need good coaches and you have to get the kids there, and Batesole's done an outstanding job with that. You would be very competitive even if you took just the local kids.''

After the program was re-instated last year, Batesole went through the area's junior college ranks to find players. The Matadors went 37-19, earning Batesole national coach of the year honors.

``Dropping the program should decimate it. They had a lot of players that were shopping around,'' Pepperdine coach Frank Sanchez said. ``But they're very well skilled, very well coached. Coach Batesole deserves a lot of credit. Through the whole ordeal he stayed level-headed. He's been able to identify talent that wasn't recruited and he's been able to identify transfers and get guys in on partial scholarships.''

But there are nuances associated with CSUN that few nationally respected programs must overcome.

In other college programs it's customary for players to manicure the infield before and after games, but budgetary dilemmas forced the Matadors to do a little more.

Until last season, CSUN's players also had to line the field. While umpires were discussing grounds rules with the coaches, players were weaving between them to finish painting the batter's box.

It's also not uncommon to see some of the Matadors mowing the outfield grass.

``With minimal support this program can explode,'' Batesole said. ``They give me 11.7 scholarships and build a stadium, and my first recruiting class will play in the World Series.''

Currently, the baseball program operates with eight scholarships (the NCAA maximum is 11.7). The administration projects to reach 10 in a few seasons.

The stadium issue remains unclear, though its status should change quickly. Batesole said he's been told this would be the last season the Matadors play at their current location.

A specially appointed site committee, which has focused primarily on the location of a new football stadium, has suggested a new baseball complex be constructed near the existing field. Batesole's hope is to be playing there next season.

``Having 11.7 scholarships and a stadium in place, now it's a level playing field,'' Batesole said. ``It's who's going to work harder.''

However, there is one issue that could have a catastrophic effect if it isn't resolved soon.

Batesole, who is 131-57-1 in three seasons, is in the final six months of his contract. He was negotiating a long-term extension before Paul Bubb resigned as athletic director in early November, but the topic hasn't been broached since.

Some CSUN baseball supporters believe Batesole should be signed to a five-year deal, which would speak enormously toward an administrative commitment for baseball.

``I've never not finished a contract, and six months from now it's up,'' Batesole said. ``There's a lot of great things going on here, and if they're committed, there's no reason it can't be as good a job as Fullerton or Long Beach.''

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PHOTO (Color) Former CSUN baseball stars Rob Crabtree, left, and Robert Fick have shots at major-league roster spots in 1999, but neither has forgotten where they got their start.

Myung J. Chun/Daily News