News Scrapbook 1981-1982

SAN DIEGO UNION MAR 2 S 198l

oreros Win Finale, 73-62, and Think Big for Future

• • • Updating San Diego's major college tennis team · _ San Diego State University's men are 15-12 after havmg had a nine-match winning streak ended by nat1onally ranked (. ·o. 17) South Carolina last Saturday. The Aztec women arP 15-4, ranked sixth nat1onally and facmg a major test today in No. 2 (likely soon to be No. 1) Stan- ford. That match begins at 3 at the rasl courts on campus. Micki Schillig is the Aztecs' No. 1 singles player. Stan• ford 1s led by Alycia Moulton. , . The University of San Diego's men boo, ted their record to 16-8 with a 9-0 victory over Colorado yesterday The Toreros· top performers are Terry Ward (25-16 counting 'ingles and douhlr matches), Ian McLaughlin (27 15) and Peter Herrmann (22-13). USD's women have a mark of 7-9 following three wms m their la t four matches

"I'm glad to see the seniors go out as winners," Brovelh said. "They were a part of our building, and they ·u remember this game."

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SAN DI EGO UNION

USD Topples Aztecs 6-4

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EVENING TRIBUNE MAR l 6 198l

Toreros, Aztecs take turns vanquishing Iona on diamond

T ·o-run homers by Rich Hill and Rigo Rodriguez ke\'Cd San Diego State's 6-2 baseball victory over Iona at Smith Field last night It was he day's second loss for the visitors having dropped a 10-6 verdict to University of San Diego in the afternoon. Right-hander Bill Blount (2-2) went five innings to get the win for State, which now has a 21-7 record.

La Mesan Is Sold On USO Baseball By Steve Thorn

borderline with El Cajon and Spring Valley Avocado Boulevard. Mullen is a product of the strong :i,outh baseball programs in the East County. He participated in the Cajon De Oro League, starting in Little League and working his way up through what is called the "Big League," for players between the ages of 16 and 18. (C-ontinued from Page 2B)

Some things remain consistent. Take the sport of baseball for example. For many fans, particularly those of who survive the below zero temperature winters back east, the sport means springtime as much as the reappearance of green grass and the return of our flying feathered friends . But there is one group out in Califor~a that gets a head start over the pro and high school batmen: it's the college teams. For the college athlete, baseball is something that begins shortly after Santa makes his annual squeeze da,wn a chimney. John Mullen, a 22 year-old right fielder for the University of San Diego Toreros, has made the adjustment in seasons quite nicely since joining the team after a successful career at Valhalla High School. Mullen is one of the key players in Coach John Cunningham's goal of maintaining a winning record in the ultra competitive Southern California Baseball Association conference. In addition to facing neighboring San Diego State, the demanding 1982 season schedule finds the Toreros playing against such major college powerhouses like the University of Arizona and UCLA. Mullen is one of those team players that coaches love to have, an athlete who can come up with impressive stats in several aspects of the game. In 1981, Mullen led the Toreros in two areas: hitting with 68 connections and triples with eight. He was also the third best batter on the team with an average of .315. Currently in the 1982 campaign, Mullen is batting .302. Mullen hopes he can keep up his .300 average for the remainder of e . eason. "Last year, I had a terrible start," he revealed. "My average was .220. Then I started to get hot. Traditionally, I'm a slow starter." The right fielder wa born in New York City but moved out west with his family at an early age. He grew up in the section of La Mesa that is on the lA- tAe\-. Co'-lr•~r MAR 4 1982

OTHER COLLEGE DIAMOND ACTION: The USO Toreros play a double-header against the Iona Gaels at Alcala Park Sun- day (March 14) at noon and a single game aga,nsl the Point Loma Crusaders on Friday (March 19) at 2:30 p.m. The USIU Gulls play all their game this week on the road while UC Sim Diego entertains Westmont College Saturday (March 13) 1n a tw1n-b1II be91nn1ng at noon UCSD Tritons also play Fnday (March 19) at home against the University of MAso;achusetts at 2:30 p m TUNEDIN MAR 1 3 19aZ

f.aMesan Is Sold On USO Baseball (Continued from Page 1 BJ

"academically a senior but athletically a junior. I red shirted my first year." According to the campus profile in the 1982 Baseball Yearbook, USD "is presently experiencing record attendance," with an overall student population of 4,300. That's still a small campus compared to SDSU, which is what appealed to Mullen when he was looking at schools. "I decided on USD, said Mullen, "because I wanted to stay in San Diego but I didn't want to go to a big school like State," Since coming to USD, Mullen has been able to keep up his grades despite the busy travel schedule with the team. He has been able to handle tuition costs by earning what he called "half financial aid, half athletic scholarship." In addition to the University's level of academics, there was another big reason why the Norseman chose USD: it was the opportunity to play for Cunningham. "I like 'JC' - he really knows baseball," said Mullen with a smile. "He really stresses the mental aspect of the game. That's the one area where he has really helped me." While Mullen has a definite game plan on his field of study in the few years, he is not ruling out the possibility that he might be playing ball after his USD days are through. "Drafted? Well, I'd love a shot at it," he said. "I want a shot."

He also played for the El Cajon Valley Colt and Palomino Leagues. It was in the latter group that saw Mullen play on the 1978 Southern California Section championship team. In more recent seasons, Mullen has been involved with the El Cajon Thoroughbred program a~d Tyke's Liquor, a semi-pro team. He graduated from the Norsemen campus in 1978 after being voted Valhalla's "Athlete of the Year." As a senior, Mullen was voted the school's MVP in the sports of football, basketball and baseball. "At Valhalla, I played outfield, infield and even pitched a little bit," said Mullen. "I loved football in high school but I don't really have the size or weight for it." But Mullen does have the standard height and weight of your typical baseball i:;layer, as he is currently 6 feet and weighs 170. The Toreros have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride so far this season. As of last Friday, USD had a 6-5 record. "We should be a lot better," said Mullen. "We're still getting our game together." In the classroom, Mullen is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with a minor in business. In the next two years he plans to earn a Masters in Business at USD. Mullen said that he is

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SAN DI EGO UNION ~;,;: ! 7 1992

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Aztecs, USDTie 6-6 'SD's Doug Pau! ingled in two runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game as San Diego State and the Toreros b:ittled to a 6 6 tandoff in a contest called by rain after nine !nnings at I Smith Firld last night.

A MEMBER OF THE TOREROS-John Mullen, a right fielder for USD, has enjoyed success at the University since joining the club after graduating from Valhalla in 1978.