CSUMB baseball

 Walt White made a commitment to change the fortunes of the Otters program when he took the job following an 8-41 season in 2010.
 What has transpired in six seasons under the CSUMB manager is 171 wins, a single-season school record 39 wins in 2013 and a school record 14-game improvement between 2012 and 2013.
 In addition, the Otters have two California Collegiate Athletic Association titles, capturing the North Division championship last year.
 Furthermore the Otters have won 21 or more games in all six seasons under White, having made two NCAA Division II West Regional appearances.
 "We're knocking on the door,'' White said. "But we have to kick that door down. We have to be able to do it in the regionals if we want a ticket to the World Series. Nothing is handed to you.''
 Coming off a 34 win season, in which CSUMB reached the NCAA West Regionals, White will have to find a way to replace six everyday starters.
 It won't hurt having the co-single-season home run record holder back in the heart of the lineup in all-West Regional catcher Hayden Duer.
 The 6-foot-4 junior started 50 games last year behind the dish, hitting 13 homers while batting .290 for the reigning conference champions.
 Despite missing 20 games last year, Myles Hager still hit eight bombs for the Otters, while spraying the ball around the field at a .300 clip, shoring up one of the infield spots at second base.
 "There was some maturity that went through last year's group,'' White said. "A lot of our kids felt snubbed the year before. We played with a chip on our shoulder.''
 White has found a feeder school in San Benito High, where he believes Connor Fabing and Jacob Tonascia are going to fill vital roles in the lineup.
 The pair could split time between first base and designated hitter, with Fabing giving the Otters a much needed left-handed bat.
 The addition, former Monterey High and Monterey Peninsula College shortstop Jordan Esposo gives the Otters some speed at the top of the lineup.
 "He gives us a dimension we do not necessary have a lot off and that's team speed,'' White said. "He will hit at the top of the order.''
 Esposo, who was MPC's Athlete of the Year last year, will likely move from shortstop to the outfield this spring for the Otters, who open their season Thursday, hosting Azusa Pacific at 2 p.m.
 "He has a great arm and can track balls down,'' White said.
 What White has this year is depth in the rotation with the return of Greg Steinbeck and the addition of Brian Granger.
 Both are San Benito grads that have endured elbow injuries that have cost them at least a full season of college baseball.
 Prior to blowing out his elbow as a freshmen at CSUMB, Steinbeck was 6-0 for the Otters in 2014, missing all of last year.
 Granger is a unique story in that he hasn't pitched in two years since having Tommy John surgery on his elbow after three seasons at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
 Before getting hurt, Granger was projected to go in the MLB amateur draft, having pitched Cal Poly to its only regional win 2014.
 "He had another year and called and said I want to pitch,'' White said. "He's been in the mid 90's all winter. If he's not as good as anyone in the conference, I'd be shocked.''
 In fact, White has named Granger his opening day starter on Thursday.
 As a senior at San Benito in 2011, Granger was 7-1 with 64 strikeouts in 63 innings, compiling seven complete games.
 "I was concerned with him having not played in two years,'' White said. "How committed would he be? The day he stepped on campus, he's been one of the greatest guys I've been around.''
 Pitching isn't as much a concern for White this year as is his every day lineup, which is still unsettled going into the spring.
 "I feel our pitching is deeper and more stable,'' White said. "On the field, right now we are unproven position wise. There are no consequences in practice. Nothing substitutes game action."