49er Athletics Had More Highs Than Lows

The athletic year that was at Long Beach State isn’t quite over yet, but the clock is ticking. Loudly.

Since time is almost up on another year of Long Beach highs--and lows--this seems like a good time to take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of 49er sports.

There’s certainly lots to review.

At the center of 49er athletics is first-year Athletic Director Bill Shumard. For the most part, Shumard liked what he saw.

“This was a fairly typical year for us,” Shumard said. “We’ve come to expect success and, all in all, we had a great deal of success.”

To be sure, Long Beach fans have a lot to feel good about.

Again, Long Beach’s volleyball programs are among the nation’s elite. The women’s program maintained its high standards under Coach Brian Gimmillaro.

Long Beach (33-3) didn’t achieve its annual goal of winning the national championship, but it showed continued improvement. Injuries slowed the team in the NCAA playoffs.

Gimmillaro’s key performers, including star setter Misty May, are expected to return next season. May averaged nearly 12 assists and was selected Big West player of the year.

Though the 49er men (19-10) lost in the first round of the playoffs, Coach Ray Ratelle clearly did a super job getting the group that far.

The women’s tennis team (17-7) made big strides under Coach Jami Jones, finishing third in the Big West. Jing Chen and Amanda Parson were undefeated in doubles play.

As always, the baseball and softball teams were national powers under coaches Dave Snow and Pete Manarino. The softball team (43-18-1) won its second consecutive Big West conference championship and opens the NCAA Regionals against conference rival Cal State Northridge on Friday at Fresno State.

The baseball team (34-22) won the Big West’s South Division title. Long Beach plays host to UC Santa Barbara in the first round of the Big West tournament Thursday at Blair Field.

Shumard said he also is pleased by the 49ers’ overall recruiting.

“We’re getting a better academic student and I’m also pleased with the type of young people we’re recruiting,” Shumard said.

It seems that the only areas of major concern are the basketball programs--the men’s in particular.

Men’s Coach Wayne Morgan had a rocky first season (13-14), which was punctuated by an opening-round loss to New Mexico State in the Big West tournament at Reno. Seven players with eligibility remaining have left the program.

The women’s team (11-17) struggled at times during Coach Dallas Boychuk’s second season. However, Boychuk scored some points with her bosses for upsetting Nevada in the Big West tournament.

The men’s program is the most important to the athletic department because of the revenue it generates, so any concern on this front is a problem, Shumard concedes.

“Our men’s and women’s programs need to step up and be a little more competitive within the conference, and hopefully on a national level as well,” Shumard said. “But I like the vital signs that I’m seeing.”

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The softball world: Northridge finished second to Long Beach in the Big West title chase, but it is seeded ahead of Long Beach in the regional at Fresno.

Long Beach also has to contend with California, Northridge and Fresno in the regional--all big-time powers. No wonder Manarino isn’t a happy guy right now.

“We’re in the same conference as Northridge and we both play the same teams,” Manarino said. “It was my understanding that their RPI was higher than ours, but I really don’t understand how the whole thing works.”

Fresno is seeded first, Northridge second, Long Beach third and California fourth. Manarino also isn’t pleased that so many high-caliber teams were grouped in one regional because of, he believes, financial considerations only.

“We were certainly surprised by the draw we got,” Manarino said. “Softball gets more hung up on proximity and revenue rather than where these teams should go. I’m disappointed, but we have to take all of this as a challenge and go out and play hard.”

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No home cooking: Blair Field hasn’t provided all the usual comforts of home for the baseball team this season. Not even close.

Long Beach is 8-7 in Big West play in its ballpark. The 49ers closed the regular season with three consecutive losses to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and lost four of their final five home games.

Away from Blair Field, the 49ers are 14-1 in the Big West.

“We were an exceptional road team and a very, very average team at home,” Snow said. “I really don’t have any reasons as to why that is. I can’t pinpoint anything.”

49er Notes

Softball pitcher Tammy Dietrich (22-10, 1.14 earned-run average) opened the season by shutting out then-No. 2 UCLA and closed it by shutting out No. 2 Fresno State.

Coming Attractions

Here’s a look at key games this week for Long Beach State:

* Baseball, 7 tonight against UC Santa Barbara in the Big West tournament at Blair Field. Long Beach won the season series, 5-1.

* Softball, 5 p.m. Friday against Cal State Northridge in NCAA Regional at Fresno State. Northridge finished second to Long Beach in the Big West.