Fresno State Athletics
A New Found Maturity
2/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Why would somebody trade the cool weather and beautiful beaches of San Diego for the hot valley weather of Fresno?
Baseball. Baseball tradition, actually.
Junior shortstop Oscar Lopez left Southern California for the green grass of Pete Beiden Field and Fresno State's rich baseball tradition. He is one of four current Bulldogs who have played three-plus years in the baseball program. After redshirting his second year, Lopez has come back to show solid leadership and potential.
"It was the right choice to come here," Lopez said. "I was struggling with the decision at first, but Craig daLuz had a big influence on me. Coach Rupcich always was contacting me to see how I was doing. One day I just made the decision and I'm glad I did.
"The tradition is great here and that was also a factor in my decision. When I came here for a visit and saw the field, it made me imagine playing out here with the fans going nuts. So far it has been a great experience."
Last season, Lopez began the season as a reserve. He made a few sporadic appearances but did not get an enormous amount of playing time. However, he stuck with it and became the starter in the latter half of the season.
Lopez made 22 starts in 27 appearances, batting .316 with two home runs and 16 RBIs. He had a career-high four hits in an 8-1 Bulldog victory against Cal Poly on April 13. Most notably, he ended the season with an 11-game hitting streak.
"Oscar is a very important part of our team," Fresno State head coach Bob Bennett said. "He really came on strong at the end of last season and has given us some stability. He knows what's going on and he knows how to play the game. He is a clutch player in the infield and at the plate."
One of Lopez, more interesting statistics cannot be found in the media guide. In a wild game at New Mexico on April 1, 1999, the Bulldogs bullpen was empty late in the high-scoring game. It was at that point that Lopez found himself standing on the mound.
"To this day, I can still remember what I was thinking," Lopez said. "I had realized that we were running out of pitchers, so I knew there was a chance I might get a opportunity to pitch."
Lopez is known to throw his knuckle ball during practice. The pitch caught the eye of assistant coach Steve Pearse and the rest of the coaching staff. However, Lopez certainly was not thrown into the New Mexico game without some practice.
"I remember we were in Hawaii and I was sitting on bench during a crazy game," Lopez said. "It was about the eighth or ninth inning and Coach Bennett told me to go down to the bullpen. I looked at him and said, `you want me to catch for somebody?' My first thought was to go down there to get somebody warm. Coach said, `no, I want you to throw.'"
"We had some injuries to our pitching staff last season and we needed a little help," Bennett said. "He has a good knuckle ball and we worked on that thing real hard for about three weeks. After that, he was ready all the time. He did a good job coming in for us that day at New Mexico. He's not afraid to get on the mound and throw the ball."
"I just felt bad that we lost the game," Lopez said. "It was a great experience. I really did appreciate the opportunity to go up there and give it my best shot."
Senior pitchers Hans Smith and Tom Graham and junior outfielder Simon Tafoya are the only three players, along with Lopez, that remain from Bennett's 1997 squad. Lopez and the other veterans carry much of the leadership load upon their shoulders this season. Lopez knows he has to lead by example in addition to playing his role in the lineup.
"I think all of us show leadership in different ways," Lopez said. "I just try to show the younger guys what they can do to improve. That's what was done for me, especially when I was a freshman. I want to show the same kind of leadership and friendship that was shown to me."
Lopez said he is where he is today because of the experienced teammates he has had in the past. He came to Fresno State as a talented shortstop with good skills, but all he was concerned with was making the team.
"I came here knowing that if I could make this team, I could play anywhere," Lopez said. "Playing at the Division I level in college is very intense, so I was satisfied with playing anywhere. I was prepared to play second or third if they asked me to."
Although Lopez, a kinesiology major, is less than two years from completing his career as a Bulldog, he knows he has matured immensely since arriving in 1997.
"I've grown up a lot," Lopez said. "The attribute I've found to be most valuable is the maturity I've gained."
by Curtis Webb -- Fresno State Media Relations
