New age Bulldogs impress

By Eddie Hughes

For all the Jeff Weavers, Jason Wood and Eddie Zoskys trotted out by the alumni, this season’s Fresno State team answered with some youngsters you’ve probably never heard of.

Yet.

You’ve never heard of Richie Robnett, Nick Moresi or Christian Vitters. That’s because they haven’t played a real game in a Fresno State uniform yet.

Robnett’s high school days are separated only by a one-year stint at Santa Barbara City College. And the only thing between the high school playing days of Moresi and Vitters and today is a summer and fall of working out with their new college team.

You’ll hear about those three soon enough if Saturday’s 8-4 victory over the alumni at Beiden Field is any indication. And while you’re at it, you might even hear about lefties Brandon Miller and Eddie Romero too. Oh, and don’t forget about sophomore starting pitcher Matt Garza, who limited the Weavers/Wood/Zoskys to three runs over six innings in the alumni game.

The Bulldogs scored five runs during Weaver’s two innings pitched. Weaver is no slouch. The right-hander was just traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers from the New York Yankees—for Kevin Brown.

Robnett and Moresi must not have gotten the memo. The two freshmen were 3 for 4 at the plate.

“ He’s not giving near what he has,” Robnett modestly said of Weaver’s performance.

Weaver has played against the best there is, and he recognized some talent Saturday.

“ I know the recruiting is a huge part of [Batesole’s] forte,” Weaver said. “They looked good swinging the bats.”

These are the Bulldogs of the coming years. The ones who are being counted on to take Fresno State back to the College World Series for the first time since 1991 when the team was ranked sixth in the nation by Collegiate Baseball. Maybe it won’t happen this year, but it could happen soon.

Coach Mike Batesole signed the 16th-ranked recruiting class in the country. A couple more like that and the Bulldogs will be calling Omaha, Neb. their home away from home.

All the team needs to once again become a baseball powerhouse is the modern-day versions of Bulldogs past. But we’ll have to wait a year or two to see if Romero turns into the next Weaver. Or Vitters morphs into the latest version of Terry Pendleton. Or if Robnett blossoms into the next Tom Goodwin.

Robnett sure looks to be the fastest player the Bulldogs have seen since Goodwin. He showed it with two stolen bases Saturday.

Goodwin didn’t make it to the game, but Robnett is well aware of his accolades, saying Goodwin still has his 60-yard dash record time posted in the weight room. Robnett said he isn’t planning to break that record any time soon.

“ I don’t think my genetics has it in me,” he said.

Maybe that’s just another of his modest replies?

A history of talented Bulldogs have made names for themselves in the Major Leagues. And Batesole looks to be on track to reviving that tradition and returning Fresno State baseball to what it once was.

If so, the alumni team 10 years from now might feature Garza, Miller and Romero on the mound. It might have Vitters playing third base with Robnett and Moresi in the outfield. And these guys could all be pros by then. And Fresno State could be competing for a national title.

Could be.