CSUN LOSES BATESOLE TO FRESNO.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Mike Batesole won plenty of baseball games at a school without enough money to fill its scholarship limits. He attracted nationally ranked recruiting classes while selling a sagging stadium and dungeon-sized clubhouse.

Now the soon-to-be-ex-Cal State Northridge coach will have the benefit of one of college baseball's premier facilities, fan support unrivaled throughout most of the West Coast and a strong tradition at the Division I level.

Batesole simply couldn't turn down Fresno State and on Tuesday was named the Bulldogs' new head coach.

``This is his dream job,'' CSUN athletic Dick Dull said of Batesole taking over a Bulldogs' program that is a regular NCAA Regional participant and played in two College World Series since 1988.

In his seventh season, Batesole guided CSUN to a Big West Conference championship and a 40-15 record. The Matadors will play Maine on Friday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Regionals at USC.

His success at CSUN, which cut baseball after the 1997 season and suffered back-to-back losing seasons in 1999 and 2000, has been hailed as a miracle performance. He was named Big West Coach of the Year this season.

Since the program's reinstatement before the 1998 season, Batesole has worked with less than the allotted 11.7 scholarships allowed by the NCAA. Dull said next season will be the first with all the scholarships used.

``He does the best job he can with what he's got,'' said CSUN's Tim Arroyo, a fourth-year senior. ``He won't have to work as hard to get the job done at Fresno State.''

Batesole inherits a stable program which employed just two head coaches since 1948: stadium namesake Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett, who retired on Sunday with 1,302 wins in 34 years.

``It's the best job in the nation,'' Batesole said by phone Tuesday. ``On the West Coast, it has the best facility, the best fans, the best community support.''

Batesole will continue to coach the Matadors through the postseason. Dull met with CSUN assistant Steve Rousey on Tuesday morning and would like to hire him at least on an interim basis. A former assistant at Long Beach State and head coach at L.A. City College, Rousey would be a leading candidate to replace Batesole.

``Michael has told me he wants to take coach Rousey to Fresno,'' Dull said. ``We'd like to keep him here.''

There are also several qualified assistant coaches in the area, including USC's Dave Lawn, UCLA's Vince Beringhele and Pepperdine's Steve Rodriguez, who are possibilities. Another name to consider is Arkansas assistant Tim Montez, who formerly held similar positions at CSUN and Pepperdine.

--Verbryke honored: Matadors junior outfielder Eric Verbryke (.335, 14 HRs, 52 RBI) was named Big West Conference Player of the Year and coach Mike Batesole was selected Coach of the Year after the Matadors (40-15, 19-5) won their first Big West title and a postseason berth.

MIKE BATESOLE AT CSUN

CSUN career record: 255-156-1 (seven years, 1996-02)

Career highlights: Led CSUN to a 40-15 record and Big West Conference title in 2002... 1998 Collegiate Baseball Coach of the Year... Won 94 games between 1996-97, most in Division I in that span... Last three recruiting classes ranked nationally by Collegiate Baseball Magazine.

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Photo:

``It's the best job in the nation. On the West Coast, it has the best facility, the best fans, the best commmunity support.'' - Mike Batesole

tomas Ovalle/The Fresno Bee

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MIKE BATESOLE AT CSUN (see text)