California State University Sacramento - Statesman Yearbook (Sacramento, CA)

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Life Goes On For Ex- Hornet Baseball Star by Gary Sekikawa Staff Writer The final out was made, eliminating the CSUS baseball team from last year’s playoffs. The season had ended. For senior second base- man Bobby Haase, the loss also marked the end of his collegiate career. “It was over,’’ Haase said. ‘‘Everybody real- ized we wouldn't see a l ot of the guys again.”’ Haase remained part of the Hornet baseball program, however, after head coach John Smith asked him to say at CSUS as an assi- tant coach. “John and | got along well,’’ Haase said. “Sac State baseball is about loyalty. | put in some hard years. As a result, he gave me this opportunity.” When Smith offered him the assistant coach- ing job, Haase was grateful. “| helped get the program going.”’ Haase said. ‘‘Now I’m getting a chance to continue with it. ’ Haase believes the program is solid, and will only improve with additional funds for scholarships and field improvement. “| like the things we're doing,’’ Haase said. “And feeling | had a part of it.” The transition from playing to coaching has been difficult, however. Spring had always meant playing baseball, but this year was different. “It was hard to give up baseball,”” Haase said. ‘‘l loved getting out there and getting dirty. It’s been rough, but it would be rougher not to be around the game at all.”’ Haase has been around the game since he was eight, when he started playing little league. As a youngster, he learned the most from his father, who was a coach. “He gave me my love for the game,’’ Haase said. Despite an interest in several sports, he chose to concentrate solely on baseball. Fol- lowing his senior year at Valley High School, he earned a spot on the Kennedy American Legion team. In 1981, Kennedy made it to the legion world series in South Carolina, an experience that still ranks as his most memo- rable. After returning from South Carolina, Haase began his college career by playing at Co- sumnes River College. Following two years there, he transferred to CSUS, turning down scholarship offers from other four-year col- leges in order to say stay close to home. Although the Hornets were successful during his two seasons, what he remembers most is the relationship that developed between the team’s players. “Everyone went out together,”’ he said. ‘‘We did everything together. They talk about teams being a family. That’s what we were.”’ When he became a coach, Haase worried about how the people he played with only a year before would treat him. “! was looking for a rough year,” he said. “But it hasn’t been as bad as | thought it would.’” Last season, he was always listening to instructions; this season he is giving them. The toughest part about coaching for him, however, is yelling at his players. “| can't do it,’’ he said. ‘It’s so hard to be mean.” Like any young baseball player, Haase fanta- sized about playing in the major leagues. Realizing that a professional career was noth- ing to bank on, he has worked to complete his education and obtain a degree in criminal justice. For now, he is a coach, but he is prepared for a life without baseball. “| had my dreams,” he said. ‘‘| wanted to play pro ball, but if | counted on that, look where |’d be. Nowhere.” “It's easy to say ‘baseball is my life,’ ’’ he said, “But it’s not. If coaching doesn’t work out, that’s all right. Life goes on.” (from 2 19 86) SIA ad ed 23

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22 by Scott Hunter Staff Writer Two All-Americans returned to CSUS after the Division Il National Swimming Champion- ships. in Orlando, Florida. Maggie Schwindt placed 15th in her qualifying event, the 200- yard breaststroke. Kathryn Kruger earned honors by placing 14th in the 200-yard back- stroke. The top 16 finalists are considered All-American, CSUS's other national entrant, Don Lang, false started off the blocks in his qualifying event, the 100-yard butterfly, and was dis- qualified. “Don gave it his all, but in the end, was a second off his best time,’’ said Coach Doug Hagen. Lang has one more year to try it again and is determined to do so. ‘Qualifying this year Swimmers Gain-AlleAmerican Honors has convinced me to compete next year,”’ Lang said. Next year will be tough for the Hornet swim team, with only 20 to 25 swimmers returning from this year’s team of 34, Hagan admits that he has his recruiting work Cut out for him. “| peed to get out and recruit hard,’’ Hagen said. ‘With all the Division | teams out there looking for the same people, it is going to be very competitive.” “We need to get the swimmers who can get the times needed to qualify for Nationals,”’ Hagen added, ‘‘And to do that, we need to lure swimmers away from the big schools.” One thing Hagen feels is needed before this can happen, is a conference to compete in. “Not being in a conference is hurting us,” said Hagan, ‘‘It is hard to be in a good end of the season meet, and even harder for people to qualify when we have to travel so far to meet good competition.’’ And travel far they did. The high point ofthe year, according to Hagen, was the Oregon Invitational at Corvallis, Ore. Twenty-six teams competed, including several Division | powerhouses, and the Hornets finished well. The men’s team finished second and the women’s team third in a meet that saw the team’s best times of the year and the qualify- ing times of Schwindt, Kruger, and Lang. “It is easier for people to swim qualifying times when they can swim against someone who will push them to do so,’’ Hagen said. It remains to be seen whether a conference can be found for the team, but with competi- tive recruiting, next year could be a banner year for the Hornets. | ED (from march 19, 1986)

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by D.R. Berry Staff Writer CSUS’ Hornet Stinger Foundation, pushing its theme of ‘‘A New Sports Era,”” saw a growth of almost $100,000 in the yearly de- posits and passed its 1985 fund-raising goal by $3,000. Dick Sperbeck, executive director of the Stinger Board of Directors, said the foundation gave approximately $229,000 to the school.” Sperbeck said funds for next year will be limited to athletic scholarships as the foundation will be eliminating several pro- Stinger Injects $100,000 Into “Sports Era” grams it has been funding. For the year 1985, the Stinger Foundation deposited $353,630 compared to 1984 when the deposit totalled $255,099. A foundation goal of $350,000 was set for 1985 and it raised $353,630. The foundation based its goal on: $140,000 for scholarships for student athletes, $50,000 for recruiting, $26,000 for the sports informa- tion office and related services to CSUS, $89,000 for operations and office personnel, $20,000 for post-season travel and $25,000 for the foundation reserve. Some of the programs the Stinger Founda- tion funded last year will now be taken over by the athletic department. The foundation also raises funds through the donations in a membership drive, a golf tour- nament, a big-ticket party and tennis tourna- ments. (from 2 5 86) eee ee