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Former IVC standout pitcher to start for national power Cal State Fullerton
Feb 01, 2007 Irvine Valley baseball coach Kent Madole and the rest of the Lasers were excited this week to find out that last year's ace, Jeff Kaplan, is the Saturday starter for national powerhouse Cal State Fullerton's team this season.
Kaplan, who is a junior right-hander, and the Titans open their 2007 campaign this weekend against Stanford. Cal State Fullerton is ranked 15th in the country by Baseball America to start the year.
"It is a big highlight for him and for our program," Madole said.
All-American standout junior Wes Roemer opens the series for Cal State Fullerton on Friday
And then it is Kaplan's turn on Saturday.
The former Dana Hills High star had an incredible sophomore year for the Lasers in 2006. He was named an all-Orange Empire Conference first team player.
Kaplan finished with just a 5-5 record in 2006, but was dominant throughout the year, shutting down a number of top teams and ending up with an impressive 2.56 ERA.
In 84 1/3 innings pitched he gave up only 62 hits and had 100 strikeouts. Opposing batters hit only .196 against him.
Kaplan ranked fourth in the conference in ERA and second in strikeouts.The 100 strikeouts were a school record for a season. Kaplan also set the Irvine Valley program's individual game strikeout mark with 12 in the Lasers' 8-1 victory over Santa Ana in May.
In conference play, Kaplan was at his best with a 4-3 record and a 1.97 ERA. He had 62 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings pitched and opposing batters hit just .186 against him.
"He was dominant last year," Madole said. "We should have got him a few more wins. He did everything we could have asked him to and more.
"We are proud of Jeff and wish him all the success in the world with Cal State Fullerton."
Kaplan began his career at IVC in 2004 and was the team's closer. He had to sit out the 2005 season and use a red-shirt year because of an arm injury.
The Titans reached the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Again last season and finished the year with a record of 50-15 overall.
Cal State Fullerton has been to the College World Series in three of the past four years, 14 times overall in the program's 32-year Division I history and has won four national titles.
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