Aug. 19, 2003
San Diego traveled to Malibu and defeated league favorite Pepperdine to claim the 2003 West Coast Conference Baseball Championship. A complete team effort down the stretch, which included clutch hitting and dominating pitching allowed USD the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
When USD shortstop Ben Quinto scooped up a groundball and flipped to second baseman Jose Ortega to record the final out of the WCC Championship Series, San Diego began an extended celebration of its second consecutive conference crown- A monumental achievement for a team that began the season 2-9 and played through its entire 56-game schedule mired below the .500 mark.
For San Diego's six graduating seniors (Quinto, Tony Perez, David Dunn, Chad Cummings, Zach Dobek and Mike Oseguera), the reversal of San Diego's fate must feel especially gratifying. One year removed from winning USD's first ever league title and representing the school in NCAA Regional play, a depleted 2003 Torero team was not expected to win its division, not to mention outplay league favorite Pepperdine to claim the league championship.
The preseason prognostication seemed validated when a streaking San Diego team was clobbered by Pepperdine- swept in a three-game series at Cunningham Stadium mid-way through conference play. The drubbing had San Diego written off as a serious contender.
Two days after the series finale (an eleven run loss), USD went to Los Angeles and stunned the USC Trojans 4-3 behind a strong pitching performance from freshman left-hander Justin Blaine. San Diego's confidence immediately returned. Under the radar of any national or even regional recognition, the Toreros won 14-of-20 games down the stretch and 9-of-10 to end the season.
As San Diego emerged as the team to beat within the WCC West, team leader's Joey Prast and senior Tony Perez shattered individual records. Prast, a junior right fielder from nearby Poway, set San Diego's all-time single season school record in doubles with 26 on the year. Perez easily became USD's career leader in walks drawn, on-base percentage, runs scored and saves. Both players along with left fielder Josh Hansen were honored as West Coast Conference First Team players at season's end.
Invaluable contributions by a host of newcomers allowed San Diego success late in the year. Hansen had single-handedly clinched both the division and league titles with dramatic game-winning homeruns. Friday starter and staff ace Kyle Collins finished an outstanding first year at USD with nine wins, including a stifling performance in the WCC Championship Series. Freshman pitcher Justin Blaine, a 6-foot-4 lefty from Westlake, became a quality arm in the weekend rotation.
The extended celebration after realizing back-to-back titles included the mobbing of game three pitching hero Aaron Wilson, and the dousing of head coach Rich Hill by an oversized bucket of ice and water courtesy of senior Tony Perez and junior first baseman Lucas Wennersten. San Diego's win during the decisive game of the championship series marked Hill's 500th career coaching victory.
