By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

FULLERTON, Calif. — Losing can become a potential powder keg with teams.

During the 2004 season, Cal. St. Fullerton started with a 15-16 record after 31 games and were on pace to become the worst team in school history.

Head Coach George Horton (now retired) was perplexed. He had tried every physical and mental technique he knew to turn around this team. But nothing worked.

At this time, he brought in Ken Ravizza to try and turn the season around with his mental techniques.

Ravizza was an internationally acclaimed performance consultant who co-authored the best-selling book Heads-Up Baseball with Tom Hanson.

A professor in the Kinesiology department at Cal. St. Fullerton who worked with pro and college baseball teams for nearly 40 years as well as other sports, Ravizza was involved in one of the greatest turnarounds in college baseball history.

 “During the season, there are always lightning bolts that hit,” said Ravizza, who passed away in July of 2018 from complications of a heart attack.

“When I became involved that season, they (Cal. St. Fullerton) were ripe fruit. I came in at exactly the right time. They were ready for what I had to say. It was one of those things where the coaches were only telling the players what they were doing wrong.

“The players were frustrated that they are doing it wrong. I remember after hearing George (Horton) and his staff talk for about 10 minutes, I asked him, ‘George, are they doing anything right?’ He said, ‘Yes, we are fielding the ball.’

“I said, ‘OK, let’s build on that.’ That was the first thing. The next day, I sat the team down and challenged them by telling them that they were the worst team in Cal. St. Fullerton baseball history, which they were. They had the worst record (15-16) and had lost to teams that this program had never lost to.

“I told them they had an opportunity to have the greatest turnaround in Cal. St. Fullerton history. Then we got back to focusing on the process instead of outcomes and focusing on doing the little things, focusing on the small steps. With that particular group, they were able to get it turned around.”

Ravizza said only a handful of players had been involved in one of his classes prior to this point in Kurt Suzuki, Ricky Romero, Jason Windsor, plus others.

“They knew who I was and were comfortable with me. From there, it was an issue of the coaches, Rick Vanderhook, Dave Serrano and most importantly George Horton, really reinforcing these concepts.

“They talked about the process, discussed Titan baseball and talked about getting to the next pitch. I think it was very important when you talk about high level performance. It is a matter of managing the moment. Instead of looking at the big picture, just take care of the moment of how I am going to get from here to there.

“When you confront crisis, amazing things happen afterword to many people. The Chinese have the term for it, and they even have symbols for crisis. One is opportunity and one is danger. A lot of times we just talk about opportunity. But there is also danger. The Fullerton baseball team in 2004 could have ended up being the worst team in school history. There was a chance they wouldn’t turn it around. I told them they were facing this reality, and I didn’t sugar coat it.

“It’s not like the book, The Secret, where if you believe, you will achieve and everything works out. Reading that book is like going to Disneyland. It ain’t that simple. The thing I have learned from the military guys is that you may have some anxiety, but you have to focus that anxiety and sharpen your sword with it and use it toward your advantage.

“The 2004 Titan baseball team was one of the best teams I have ever been involved with in getting to the next pitch and being prepared to win the next pitch. It took several times a week talking with them from halfway through the season all the way to the end.

“At the same time, I was working with Long Beach St., a team that had Jered Weaver and Troy Tulowitzki. We were doing very similar things with that team, and they didn’t make it to the College World Series.

“What I want to make clear is that the 2004 Fullerton ball club experienced the happy ending as they went 32-6 the rest of the season after a 15-16 start and won the national championship. But I still haven’t let go of the 2004 Long Beach St. team that didn’t make it to the College World Series. There is no magic to this. Too many people believe that if you do A, B and C, you will be a champion. That simply isn’t the case.”

Survival Of 57-9 Champions
It was brought up to Ravizza that another Titan ball club won the national title in 1995 under then Head Coach Augie Garrido.

They had the best record in school history at 57-9. However, they experienced a point in the season where the team lost three games in a row as fear gripped the team.

The Titans lost two straight 1-run games at Wichita St. and then traveled to Reno, Nev. to play the University of Nevada in a 3-game series. Fullerton was ahead in game one, but then the fear of losing reared its ugly head as the team started committing errors and lost once again, 10-8.

Ravizza was asked how a team this talented could face such a turning point and survive as the ball club won 18 straight games after that third loss in a row.

“I think the key was Augie (Garrido) realizing that the time was right to turn the team over to the players and let them take it by the horns. That year, he had a much more talented team than the 2004 ball club.

“Friedrich Nietzsche was quoted as saying ‘What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.’ You have to go through the adversity. Sometimes teams get an easy Regional and walk through it. Then they get a Super Regional and walk through that. Then all of a sudden they get to Omaha at the College World Series and face damn good pitching.

“Their confidence changes in how they worked the process versus their confidence coming from the end result. And that is a big difference. Most of us get our confidence from getting hits or results. But I think the key is to be resilient and survive. You’ve got your confidence from how you are going about doing your work and the way you work the process.”

To read more of this in-depth story, purchase the March 12, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

SEATTLE, Wash. — Braiden Ward of the University of Washington could be the first player in Pac-12 Conference history to lead the league in stolen bases four straight years.

In three years with the Huskies, the talented leadoff hitter has swiped 55 bases (19 in 2018, 26 in 2019 and 10 in only 15 games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season).

This season, Ward has stolen 11 bases in 13 attempts over 14 games.

Two summers ago when he was playing in the Cape Cod League, he stunned scouts as he ran a 6.18 60-yard dash in the annual Cape League Day scout showcase at Fenway Park.

It was one of the fastest times ever at that event.

While Ward has incredible speed, this incredible athlete, who plays centerfield and shortstop, has made base stealing an art form through studying great stealers.

“Growing up, I was always fast,” said Ward.

“To be a good base runner and stealer, it helps to have speed. But it also is important to be smart and be quick. I had that going for me to start with.

“Over the years, I have met former coaches or ex-Major Leaguers who had great knowledge about the subject of stealing bases.

“I have a passion for learning everything I can about this subject. It is interesting to throw ideas back and forth with people like this so you gain a better understanding of the little things it takes to be an accomplished base stealer.

“Ultimately, I looked at interviews that Ricky Henderson gave.”

Henderson, who played 25 years in the Major Leagues for nine different teams, holds the single-season record for stolen bases (130 in 1982) and is the only player in American League history to steal 100 bases in a season three times.

His 1,406 career steals is 468 higher than the previous record of 938 held by Lou Brock of the Cardinals.

“When I learned about Ricky Henderson’s philosophy of stealing bases, that gave me great knowledge of how the best did it. And I have used that since.”

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Ward explained the little things he has learned in stealing that has made him so successful.

To read more of this article, purchase the March 12, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

By PAUL CORO
Senior Writer/Grand Canyon University

PHOENIX, Ariz. — If not for El Salvador’s 12-year civil war, Fernandomania in California, hitting wads of paper with a broomstick, an uncle living in Phoenix and a chance Christmastime meeting, Juan Colato might not be playing his senior year at Grand Canyon University with two bright futures — in baseball and engineering.

Pursuing a college degree on a baseball scholarship was the goal that his parents, Marcos and Katia, set for their oldest child when they hatched a plan as he started school in San Salvador.

Juan backed the plan with passion and purpose in the years since then.

He is now believed to be the first player born and raised in El Salvador to play Division I baseball on an athletic scholarship.

“It’s like a movie script for him because he’s been battling a lot of players, obstacles, the language and coaches who didn’t believe in him,” Marcos said.

“It’s a very nice story that he made for himself.”

Juan is a success in numbers, whether it be his team-leading .367 batting average last season, his 3.5 GPA in engineering or being the one Salvadoran among 6.5 million to blaze this trail for his country.

With equal parts scheme, drive and serendipity, Juan relishes the opportunity he has seized.

“It means a lot to me,” Juan said.

“I try not to forget it. I try to always remember where I came from. I try to always think about my friends who weren’t as lucky as I was, to have my uncle here and all the other stuff. I work hard for it.”

When the civil war began in El Salvador in 1979, Marcos’ father moved the family to San Jose, Calif., once he became a target.

In the U.S., Marcos and his brother, Oscar, quickly fell in love with baseball, especially when Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Fernando Valenzuela stirred an international Latino following in the 1980s with his Hall-of-Fame work on the mound.

The Colatos returned to El Salvador in 1986, but an impression of the American pastime and educational opportunities were laid.

Twelve years later, Marcos and Katia welcomed the first of three kids, Juan. They strategically introduced baseball to him at age 6 after he developed a disdain for swimming and as they avoided soccer for its popularity.

For nearly a month, Juan cried that he did not want to play baseball.

To read more of this story, purchase the March 12, 2021 edition or subscribe to Collegiate Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

TUCSON, Ariz. — The sport of college baseball has gone through some refreshing changes the last few years.

Not many people realize it, but three women have been serving on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee since 2018.

Oregon State Deputy Athletics Director Marianne Vydra served on the committee in 2018 and 2019. She recently retired after 28 years in the OSU athletics’ department.

Then Nevada Las Vegas Athletics Director Desiree Reed-Francois began serving on the 2020 committee and will continue through 2024.

University of Washington Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen begins a 2-year stint in 2021.

All three are incredible administrators who only make the NCAA Division I championship stronger.

According to Jeff Williams of the NCAA, Dee Todd (athletics director at North Carolina A&T) was the first women to serve on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee in 2006.

“I was the second woman ever to serve on the NCAA Div. I Baseball Committee,” said Vydra.

With the exception of these four women, the past 74 years has only included male Division I baseball coaches, conference administrators or university administrators on the NCAA Div. I Baseball Committee.

This body determines the teams that make the NCAA Div. I Championship and also make all the administrative decisions before and during the tournament, including playing through nasty weather, NCAA rules among other items.

Vydra was asked if she faced any coaches who were anti-women during her stint on the committee.

“I really enjoyed my time on the committee, and it was 99 percent positive. I never received any negative feedback from any coaches at all.

“It was interesting to see the reactions of people when you told them you were on the NCAA Div. I Baseball Committee because women rarely serve on it. I tell you one thing. Everyone on this committee really knows the game of baseball and especially college baseball.

“They really enjoy being a part of the committee.”

Vydra, who has served on numerous NCAA sports committees over the years, including soccer, baseball, softball and gymnastics, said she had a blast on the Division I Baseball Committee.

“Everyone involved was so respectful of me. Of all the committees I served on, the most fun was being on the softball committee and second was the baseball committee.

“There are so many things to deal with outdoor sports like softball and baseball with weather situations that come up.”

She appreciates how different sport committees within the NCAA have evolved over the years.

“I am thrilled women have been part of the administrative part of the NCAA Division I baseball championship.”

Vydra said years ago during NCAA sport committee deliberations on which teams should be in the playoffs, you would raise your hand when you voted for teams typically in the wee hours of the morning.

“That doesn’t happen anymore. Everyone on a committee sits by a computer and votes on a blind ballot. The process is so much smoother than it previously was.

“Picking the teams for the NCAA playoffs is all about the data you receive and those teams that deserve to be in. You can make extremely informed decisions based on all the data available.”

Vydra loves everything about the game of baseball and softball when it comes to strategy.

“Every pitch is important in the playoffs.

“It is fascinating to watch the chess game being played with coaches from game to game.

“I hope more women get involved in men’s sports committees like I have. The key is having knowledge about a sport.”

She got her opportunity to be on the NCAA Div. I Baseball Committee when an opening came up, and she put her resume in to the Pac-12 Conference office. The Pac-12 felt she was highly qualified to serve and forwarded her name on to an NCAA Committee that approved her since she had 14 years of NCAA committee experience with different sports.

“They really wanted someone who was a well-seasoned committee member who had served on other sports.

“Thankfully, I got the job.”

Vydra said any time a committee picks teams for the NCAA playoffs, schools on the outside that just missed being chosen will be upset along with their fan base.

“You have to be able to take criticism and be able to defend why you picked the teams you did in concert with other administrators on the committee. Sometimes you have to agree to disagree and keep moving on.

“My time on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee was special. I thoroughly enjoyed being at the College World Series. It is a remarkable event and festival just like the Women’s Softball World Series because they both go on for days.”

To read more of this article, purchase the Feb. 26, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

PEORIA, Ill. — Bradley RHP closer Theron Denlinger has a cannon for an arm with a 98-mph fastball.

What makes him such a fascinating story is that in April of 2016, he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Prior to the injury, the hardest he ever threw a fastball was 87 mph at Madison College before coming to Bradley.

After a medical redshirt year with rehabilitation, he began utilizing a unique regimen that impacted his amazing 11 mph velocity gain and kept his arm healthy at the same time.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound closer became heavily involved with making knives, swords and axes in his dad’s blacksmith shop at home in Cuba City, Wisc.

Denlinger placed iron or steel in a forge that reached temperatures in excess of 2,000 degrees.

He then took the red-hot metal out of the forge and pounded it with an 8-pound sledge hammer on an anvil to sculpt different items with the vision he had in mind.

Imagine picking up a sledge hammer this heavy and pounding away on metal for long periods of time which, by the way, is similar to the throwing motion by a pitcher.

Collegiate Baseball has never interviewed any pitcher or knows of any who has used blacksmith methods to build up an arm to increase velocity, arm strength and recover from Tommy John surgery as Denlinger has.

This wasn’t some grand scientific experiment by Denlinger. His love for blacksmithing was the sole factor.

As the years went by from Tommy John surgery, it was hard not to notice consistent jumps in his fastball velocity.

He is not sure if the velocity jump to 98 mph was because of swinging the 8-pound sledge hammer hour after hour or if it was because of a combination of throwing baseballs at Bradley directed by fabulous coaches, long toss, weight training, utilizing plyo balls and blacksmithing.

Only two years after rehabbing his elbow from surgery, he made 22 appearances at Bradley during the 2019 season to lead the Braves with 6 saves and a 2.86 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Denlinger, who has a 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball, cutter, curve and changeup in his pitching repertoire, didn’t allow a run in 18 of his 22 appearances and didn’t surrender a hit in 16 of 22 outings. Opponents hit just .175 against him in 2019.

Last season, he only pitched in 4 1/3 innings before the season was shut down because of COVID-19.

To read more of this article, purchase the Feb. 26, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. Denlinger explains what he did in blacksmithing to come back from Tommy John surgery in only nine months and was throwing 3 MPH harder than he ever threw before, plus much more.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Closers in baseball routinely face high pressure situations late in games.

For U.C. Santa Barbara RHP Conner Dand, dealing with pressure is old hat.

He also is a professional surfer who has competed in numerous competitions. He has surfed in waters with great white sharks and ridden waves for over 300 yards which lasted 30 seconds.

Dand has been forced under water for over a minute when waves came crashing down on him, and he couldn’t get back to the surface for what seemed like an eternity.

Now that’s real pressure…not panicking when you face the prospect of dying if you do.

The vast majority of the time, surfing is an absolute blast to Dand as he has become an expert at determining which waves will be the largest to catch and how to attack them.

This 6-foot-3, 195-pounder had five appearances and two saves over 7 1/3 innings in 2020 for U.C. Santa Barbara before the season was shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He posted a 1.23 ERA and fanned 6 batters with only 1 walk and 1 run allowed.

Dand fires a 4-seam fastball at 90-96 mph with run. He also has a Vulcan changeup which is 87-88 mph. His slider has dynamic break and is 80-84 mph.

“When I was five or six years old, my dad taught me how to surf,” said Dand.

“I also enjoyed playing basketball and soccer when I grew up.

“In seventh grade, I switched schools and really got into surfing and got pretty good at it.

“Every weekend, I entered surfing contests. When I got to San Clemente H.S. (San Clemente, Calif.), I just pursued surfing as my sport, and I stopped playing baseball from my freshman to junior years.

“I was traveling up and down the coast of California competing in tournaments every weekend. I even traveled to New Jersey one time to compete in Belmar when I was a freshman or sophomore in high school which was a professional event.

“I was juggling surfing and high school academics at the time. Most of the big time surfers were being home schooled and traveled all over the world to compete in surfing competitions. My parents were pretty smart because they valued my education which ended up working out well for me.”

Dand said that he was essentially in the minor leagues as a pro surfer and never earned enough points to be one of the top 32 surfers in the world which would have allowed him to compete in the Championship Tour.

Dand ultimately went on to be the valedictorian at San Clemente High School and is currently a graduate student at UCSB which is an extremely difficult feat.

Gaucho Head Coach Andrew Checketts said that it is the first time in 10 years a baseball player from his program has been admitted to the graduate studies program at UCSB.

Only elite amateur surfers in California qualify for the weekend tournaments he competed in.

“You had to qualify for those tournaments, and I think 32 surfers typically would be in one of those competitions. When I competed in the larger pool of surfers which approached being a professional, there would be hundreds of surfers.”

Dand said there are heats as surfers navigate through the quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals.

He typically did very well in tournaments as he captured the state championship three years in a row during his freshman-junior years at San Clemente High.

While he was in high school, he entered a few professional events.

Early in his surfing career, there was no rule that prevented another surfer from darting in front of you to catch a great wave. Then the Priority Rules were embraced.

“Before the Priority Rules, there was some kicking and scratching between surfers trying to catch the same wave,” said Dand.

“Guys were paddling on top of each other. That was all part of the game.”

The Priority Rules now in effect include:

1. The surfer who is closest to the curl, the peak or the breaking part of the wave has the right of way and priority over all other surfers;
2. The surfer who is farther outside and away from the shore has priority over all other surfers sitting or paddling on the inside, even if closer to breaking part of the wave.

Ultimate Surfing Challenge
Dand was asked if he has ever surfed at Mavericks, one of the most dangerous surfing spots in the world near Half Moon Bay, Calif. just 20 miles south of San Francisco.

Waves in this area have reached 51 feet tall which are the equivalent of a 5-story building, and the waters also feature sharks and treacherous rocks that protect the local lagoon. As the wave goes over the reef, it rises and forms a tall A-frame peak as thousands of pounds of frigid water rise up, form a curl and ultimately crash back down.

Many surfers have been seriously hurt with a handful dying.

“I have never surfed at Mavericks, but I wish I had the chance to,” said Dand.

“If I wasn’t heavily involved in baseball, I would definitely do it now. Some of my friends have gone to places like that and sent me video and photos which are amazing to look at. Mavericks has some unbelievable waves, but it also is extremely dangerous. You really need to know what you’re doing there.

“Any wave over 10-15 feet is pretty heart-stopping.”

Dand said he has surfed in Indonesia which presented a dangerous challenge.

To read more of this story, purchase the Feb. 26, 2021 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE.