Alvarez
keeps the Dirtbags rolling
By Michael Bower
On-line Forty-Niner
 Abe
Alvarez was sprinting towards the first
base dugout to try to catch a foul ball
and when he approached the first baseline
he broke stride and jumped over it as the
ball sailed into the stands.
“It was just basic instinct,” Alvarez said,
whose superstition is to never touch the
first baseline.
Most players who accompany Alvarez with
the superstition do not abide by it during
a play but that is part of what makes Alvarez
unique.
 The
Dirtbag ace is known to pump his fist, do
a spin and sprint to the dugout always making
sure to jump over that line after striking
out a hitter to end the inning. He also
has been known to wear his hat sideways
on the mound with his bushy hair crawling
out of it.
But what the southpaw is known best for
is his dominating performances day in and
day out on the mound.
The 6-foot 2-inch junior arrived at Long
Beach State as a freshman in 2001. He made
just five appearances on the hill pitching
three innings with an ERA of 6.00, but things
changed drastically in his sophomore year.
Alvarez led the Big West Conference with
12 wins and was second in the conference
with an ERA of 2.72. He compiled 89 strikeouts
and opponents batted just .240 against him
in 102.2 innings. Suddenly Alvarez had a
resume with a long list of accomplishments
including:
•
2002 BWC Pitcher of the Year
•
2002 Baseball America second team All-American
•
2002 Collegiate Baseball third team All-American
•
2002 first team All-Big West
•
2002 BWC Pitcher of the Week
Alvarez was also part of the summer 2002
United States of America baseball team where
he posted a 1.93 ERA in 11 appearances.
“He had more maturity, confidence and experience
after his freshman year,” pitching coach
Troy Buckley said. “He went up to Alaska
and was the reliever of the year there and
I think that really put up his confidence.”
The man with the golden-left arm is following
up his tremendous 2002 season with another
stellar year in 2003.
The pre-season All-American is 6-0 on the
year with a microscopic 2.06 ERA. He has
53 strikeouts in 56.2 innings pitched and
opponents are hitting just .250 off him.
His most dominating performance of the year
came in eight-shutout innings against Cal
State Northridge on April 4. He struck out
nine while just giving up three hits.
Buckley on Alvarez’s importance to the Dirtbag
program:
“Huge,” he said. “Over the last two years
this guy is obviously one of the team leaders
on the staff. He is one of the best left-handers
in the country.”
Alvarez continues to be a force on the mound
as he tries to hurl the Dirtbags to the
College World Series in Omaha.
“Omaha has always been a goal for us as
a team,” Alvarez said. “Were working hard
to get where we want to get to it’s just
a matter of getting there.”
“Everybody wants to get to the World Series
and win the national championship,” Buckley
said. “I think that would be a great way
for [Alvarez] to go out.”
After Alvarez’s tenure in the Dirtbag program
he plans to carry out his dream.
“Hopefully I will be getting drafted this
summer and I can work my way to my dream,
getting to pro ball,” he said.
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