WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1999

Gallo leads 49ers

By Arnold V. Cruz

On-Line Forty-Niner

Last year set the tone for Mike Gallo.

The senior left-handed hurler helped the Long Beach State baseball team beat the Stanford Cardinals in the NCAA West Regional playoffs.

In the NCAA College World Series, Gallo was beat 3-1 by the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes. In a rematch with the Hurricanes a few days later, he had his chance for redemption. While the 49ers didn't get the victory, they eliminated the Hurricanes from the Series.

Gallo, a former Long Beach Wilson High standout, attributes his success this year to his experience in last year's playoffs.

"I built off of last year," Gallo said. "Pitching against Miami twice and beating Stanford was the ultimate challenge. I built a lot of confidence competing against the best," he said.

Gallo has been solid for the Dirtbags this year. He has a career high nine wins with a 2.01 earned run average. Gallo has struck out 83 batters in 107.2 innings while amazingly only walking 23. He leads the team with four complete games and two shutouts.

His most recent shutout was a 6-0 complete-game victory against New Mexico State on May 1. Gallo struggled with his control the first few innings, but settled down to turn in his most impressive games of the season.

"Those last four innings is what I've wanted to see from him all season," said Coach Dave Snow. "He hasn't pitched like that in a long time."

Gallo gives Snow credit to helping him achieve his success.

"Dave Snow has been the most influential person in my life-pitching wise," Gallo said. "He puts a lot of emphasis on the mental game and competitiveness."

Although Gallo pitched in high school successfully, posting a 0.52 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 26 innings, he admits he had a lot to learn to pitch in college.

"I didn't learn to pitch until my freshman year at Long Beach City College," Gallo said. "I was a mess; I didn't know how to pitch, I just learned the basics."

Gallo's career has progressed since transferring to Long Beach State in 1997. Although he started one game in 1997 with a 10.97 ERA, he improved in 1998 with a 3.41 ERA in 10 games.

Surrounded by a young pitching staff that has been inconsistent through the beginning and middle of the season, Gallo has remained steady.

"I'm hoping my performance will rub off on the team," Gallo said.

The staff has since stabilized and the team has won 12 of 15 games. The team currently trails second-place Nevada by two games with three to play in the Big West Conference.

Cal State Fullerton has wrapped up the Big West title and the Conference's automatic playoff berth.

To wrap up second place, the Dirtbags need to sweep Fullerton this weekend and hope Pacific sweeps Nevada.