KINGSMEN GEAR UP : IMPROVED TEAM TO MAKE A RUN AT SECOND TITLE.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

This will come as unwelcome news to NCAA Division III baseball teams west of the Mississippi, but Cal Lutheran University baseball coach Marty Slimak believes his Kingsmen have improved significantly from last year.

Cal Lutheran, it should be noted, won the Southern California Intercollegiate title a year ago, grabbed the West Regional championship, advanced to the final game of the Division III World Series and finished the year with a 33-14-1 record.

The Kingsmen ultimately lost the championship, 6-5, against William Paterson. But they gained experience in their memorable run, coupled with the addition of some key newcomers to this year's club, has Slimak excited about his team's chances in 1997.

``I think we've improved,'' said Slimak, whose Kingmen open the season next Thursday against Menlo College. ``We didn't have a whole lot of depth last year but this year we've got good depth at all positions. It's an aspect that I think we've improved.''

Much like last season, Cal Lutheran will rely heavily on its pitching. And that's good since pitching appears to be a strength again.

The top two starters are senior Richard Bell and sophomore Erik Kiszczak, both of whom were significant contributors for the Kingsmen in 1996.

Bell, a 6-foot-1, 231-pound lefthander, stepped in after transferring from Moorpark College and compiled a 11-3 record with 97 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA. He was especially tough during the playoffs, winning the West Reginal with a 8-0 win over Claremont and earning 3 wins in the World Series.

Kiszczak was terrific as a freshman, finishing with a 9-3 record and an ERA of 4.02. His nine wins were the most ever by a Cal-Lutheran freshman.

Slimak has noticed improvements in both pitchers, indicating that each has added a new pitch, refined a trouble pitch and enhanced what was working for them last year.

``Kiszczak has improved on his breaking balls and Bell has a better change-up,'' Slimak said.

Closer Rudy Lesko returns after compiling 3 saves a year ago.

Some new faces in the pitching core are Scott Poletto, a transfer from William and Penn College and Marco Marquez, who played at Texas Pan American College.

In the field, the Kingsmen are solid in the outfield with the return of Eric Buben - an all-conference player as a freshman - and Adam Rauch. Both players enter 1997 bigger and stronger then last year.

Rauch had an outstanding summer while competing in a league in Wisconsin.

``He did real well back there,'' Slimak said.

Other impact returning position players include Mike Young, (IF), Frank Maldonado (IF) and Tom McGee (catcher).

Two newcomers - Anthony Olden and Brad Smith - will battle for the first base job.

Smith played last year at the University of San Diego and Olden is a transfer from Victor Valley College.

Slimak is counting on last year's playoff run to pay dividends this year. The Kingsmen played in a handful of pressure games and should be better for the experience.

``Anytime you go through something like that you think it will help you,'' Slimak said. ``These guys have been there and they know what it takes and what it's all about.''

In SCIAC play, Slimak considers La Verne and Claremont as two teams that could present problems to the Kingsmen. In the West Region, the University of California, San Diego could be a factor.

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Photo

Photo: Cal Lutheran pitchers Rudy Lesko, left, Erik Kiszczak and Richard Bell are among the veterans returning to take a stab at leading the Kingsmen to a second West Regional championship.

Phil McCarten/Special to the Daily News