Tuesday

May 12, 1998

Elorduy brings leadership, ability to Hornets

By JOAQUIN McPEEK
SPECIAL TO THE HORNET

Last week, Dan Elorduy blasted a home run off the top of the parking structure near Hornet Field. The monster hit was typical of the big plays Elorduy has made throughout the year.

In just his third year at CSUS, Elorduy boasted a career high batting average of .343, in addition to hitting 14 home runs and collecting 59 RBI going into the Big West Tournament, which starts this weekend.

Elorduy has attributed his successful season to hard work and a good work ethic. "Hard work pays off," he said.

Elorduy's career in sports dates back to high school. At Christian Brothers High School he became a multi-sport athlete, excelling at football, basketball, and baseball.

When he realized that he was "too small" for football, he focused his energy on playing baseball, and was eventually named to the all-city team in 1994, in addition to being the league's Most Valuable Player.

Elorduy comes from a long line of baseball players. His father Richard played baseball at Sacramento State, his brother Todd played for the Hornets from 1993-94, and his younger brother Jeff just completed his first season playing baseball for Cal State Northridge.

In a family so rich in baseball tradition, one might think there was a lot of sibling rivalry. "It just made each of us try harder when we played against each other," said Elorduy.

After baseball at CSUS for the 1994-95 season, Elorduy left Sac State to attend Sacramento City College for a year. Due to NCAA rules, baseball players cannot be coached prior to the start of the season, and Dan felt he needed that extra time to improve his playing abilities.

"I wanted to learn more about the game," he said.

The extra practice time paid off. Last season, Elorduy returned to the Hornet line-up, where he made 30 starts and increased his batting average to .298.

Elorduy's season was cut short when he broke his foot in a game against New Mexico.

The injury did not detour him, however. He worked hard to rehabilitate his foot and prepare for this season. After surgery and therapy, he was determined to return to the Hornet squad. Elorduy said he always maintained a positive outlook and was confident that he would return.

"I just tried to stay focused, keep a good attitude, and work that much harder," he said.

Much of his positive attitude stems from his competitive relationship with teammate Josh Payne. The two have known each other since the fifth grade, and have been friends ever since.

"Dan's like a brother to me," Payne said.

In addition to being teammates, Elorduy and Payne are also roommates. Elorduy describes this as a great situation, because the two are able to "check-up" on each other to make sure the other is practicing and conditioning.

"We push each other, and it makes us better," said Dan.

Both Payne and Elorduy train together year-round.

Payne said that the two hit balls in Elorduy's garage even during the cold months of the year.

During the season, Elorduy lifts weights with Payne for an hour following practice, then "relaxes" by hitting balls for an additional two hours. This is in addition to a three-hour regular practice time. Even with a schedule like this, Elorduy still finds time to maintain a 3.29 grade point average as a business management major.

His talents have gained him recognition both on and off the field.

Recently, Elorduy was awarded male student athlete of the year by the CSUS Foundation. And, because of his work ethic on the field, he was elected co-captain of the team, along with Payne.

"It's an opportunity for me to set a good example for the younger guys," Elorduy said.

Payne said that Elorduy is not known for his vocalization on the field, but leads by his actions.

"Elroduy brings senior leadership, experience, and outstanding athletic ability to the team," said head coach John Smith.

Coach Smith said Elorduy is an impact player because he has a great knowledge for the game.

"Dan's work ethic is outstanding. He's such a versatile player, too." Smith said. "He hits for both power and average, and runs well for his size, which is why he has opened scouts' eyes," he said.

Elorduy's goal is to play in the major leagues someday.

Andy Fox, a professional baseball player for the Arizona Diamondbacks and good friend of Elorduy's, has become an inspiration for Elorduy and his dream.

"It'd be nice to follow in his footsteps," Elorduy said.

Payne said Elorduy has the physical and mental traits required for the game, but that Elorduy's greatest qualities are his "heart and desire."

Like most students Elorduy enjoys the college life, which for him includes lifting weights, playing video games, and catching Seinfeld when he can. Still, baseball remains his passion, and playing professionally his ultimate goal.

"Good things will happen if you out and put forth the effort," said Elorduy.

CSUS rebounds against Aggies

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- The Sacramento State baseball team missed an excellent opportunity to develop momentum heading into the Big West Conference Tournament, dropping two of three games to New Mexico State last weekend.

The Aggies, who were 6-20 in conference play and mired in last place in the Big West's North Division going into the series, downed the Hornets 8-6 in last Friday's opener and followed up with an 11-9 victory in the second game Saturday.

Sac State bounced back in Sunday's season finale, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to rally the Aggies 14-13.

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Hornets (13-17, 23-33), who were swept by the University of Nevada-Reno in a key series the previous weekend. Sac State was tied for first in the North Division with Nevada heading into the series with the Wolf Pack.

In the opener of the New Mexico State series, Aggies pitcher Pat Leach struck out 14 and held off the Hornets down the stretch to pick up the win.

In the second game, Josh Payne hit his 17th homer of the season and drove in five runs to pace the Hornets, but it wasn't enough to down the Aggies.

Sac State came alive in the finale, as the Hornets stroked 15 hits to rally past the Aggies. Down 13-10 heading into the ninth, the Hornets received a two-run double from Jason Bolton and run-scoring hits by Joel Walker and Mike Dominisse to escape with the victory.

The Hornets will travel to Long Beach State Thursday to face the 49ers in the first round of the Big West Tournament.

Sacramento is climbing the walls

By ROBERT PRATT
SPECIAL TO THE HORNET

Worm, the climbing nickname for the 17-year-old student at Oakridge High School, stands with his hands on his hips as he studies the large, cement wall before him.

He calls out to his climbing partner "on belay?" His partner, the belayer or safety partner, responds, "belay on!" Worm makes his first grab on the wall about two feet above his head and goes strong up the face of the wall. In just a minute he is about 30-feet above the ground and makes his way to the arc that spans over the walking path about 15-feet across.

He yells down to his belay for some beta, a term used for advice from one climber to another. He receives the beta and crosses the arc's span, completing his climb, and repels from the top. As he lands back on earth, he takes a deep breath and wipes the sweat from his forehead and exhales. He stands straight up and tilts his head back, reading the climb he had just completed.

"Man, I want to go (climb) outside so bad," said Worm "Inside is cool, too. You get so pumped up, it's unbelievable."

Worm and his climbing friends were all "pumped up" after he completed the difficult climb on the arc at the Granite Arch Climbing Center. The climbing center is the largest of its kind in California -- 16,500 square feet -- and boasts to be one of the top-four largest indoor climbing facilities in the world.

Although Worm would rather be outside, he also enjoys climbing inside, especially since it is the only form of climbing to be done around the Sacramento area since El Niño made its presence.

Compared to outdoor climbing, a sport with a 125-year history and an estimated 650,000 technical climber population, indoor climbing is very new, but with an ever-growing popularity. According to reports from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association and the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America, commercial climbing gyms have grown from 89 in 1994 to more than 300 in 1997. In 1996, 71 percent of nearly 50,000 Climbing Magazine readers said they were participating in indoor climbing.

"Rock climbing became popular because of media hype," said Bob Porter, a 19-year climbing veteran from Tahoe, Calif. and co-owner of the Granite Arch.

"By glorifying extreme sports, everyone wanted to try it. But, as an extreme sport, it's just that it's either illegal or it's death defying."

Porter and co-owner Del Christensen opened the facility in September of 1996, spending rigorous hours building the center with the climbing walls made of reinforced steel and massive amounts of concrete. Just building the wall where they teach the beginners how to belay, took about 100 hours to build, Porter said.

"We took a dangerous sport, if you don't know what you are doing, but a relatively safe sport, if you know what you are doing, and put it in a controlled environment. You don't have poison oak. You don't have rattle snakes. You don't have snow or ice elements. You don't have the weather."

Many indoor climbers also climb outdoors. According to Porter, a large quantity of outdoor climbers use indoor facilities to get ready for the outdoor rush. But, he has noticed a new trend in indoor rock climbing.

"Half of the population are members of a fitness club of some kind," Porter said. "People are quitting some of the more traditional gyms and coming here and saying, 'I love climbing; it's a blast.' It is very creative and very challenging.

"In weightlifting, I really can't challenge myself. I can put an extra five pounds on the bar, and that's about it. With this, the person doing a workout can say 'oh, I am a 5.09 (Yosemite Decimal Rating System), but I want to be a 5.10 climber someday, so I'm going to work on 5.10 climbs."

The YDRS is a measurement of the difficulty of a climb.

5.0 is the easiest route to climb, while a 5.14 is the toughest climb in the world to date. "A 5.14 is pushing the envelope. We don't have any of those climbers here, but we do have some 5.13 climbers," Porter said.

"I have never been outdoors," said Laura Brown, a first-month beginner at rock climbing who said she had just joined the Granite Arch as a member. "I am using this as an exercise tool, but also to prepare for some possible climbs this summer."

The fear of most beginning climbers is they feel they do not have the strength to do the climbs. According to Porter, climbing is a meticulous sport, requiring patience and strategy.

"Climbing is not a strength sport," Porter said.

"That is a total misconception. It is a technique and a balance sport. It is closer to climbing a ladder than it is climbing a jungle gym."

Strength is only a factor in the development of a strong climber when dealing with strength and body weight ratios. The lower your body weight and the stronger you are, the better you will be. According to Porter, small women and children are often better climbers than even the most athletic men because of their strength-to-body weight ratios and their flexibility, versatility and endurance.

"Those macho football players who come in here can't climb to save their lives," Porter said. "You get some meek little computer guy and a librarian type girl, they could out climb some of these big guys."

Porter believes for people who have never climbed before, there is no need to try to increase body strength. Most of the muscle used to complete a climb comes from the legs, and he is quick to tell his climbing students that they are preparing to climb every day from everyday walking.

"It is a balance and finesse sport," Porter said.

"Ninety-percent of the climb is in your feet, not in your arms. Your arms are purely there to hold yourself to the wall. They're not there to pull you up the wall."

And when the soon-to-be climber gets past the fear of failure, price is always a concern. Compared to other sports that Porter claims to be in the same market, such as snow skiing to even bowling, indoor rock climbing is fairly inexpensive.

"When comparing indoor climbing to skiing you pay $40 for a lift ticket. Then you pay for lunch and the gas to get to and from there. It could cost you $100 to go skiing," Porter said.

For a beginner at the Granite Arc, depending on age, a full day costs between $19 and $27, a price that includes equipment rentals and a mandatory belay class. For the beginner who wants to quickly learn to be a more confident climber, a two-hour class is offered for an additional $20.

Although there are more "newbies," a term used by many of the climbers for beginners, who climb at the Granite Arch, Porter feels his establishment gives most climbers with varied experiences many new challenges.

"We are a newbie market," Porter said. "But we also cater to some of the more advanced climbers. We change our holds (areas on the walls to grab to get up the wall) on our walls about every 30 to 180 days, depending on the quality of the route, so you always have something new."

As a person climbs more often, they are encouraged to join the gym as a member with a fee ranging in price from $36 to $46 a month.

Although someone may save money joining the gym as a member, Porter encourages only those who own their own equipment to join because membership fees do not include rentals. The membership is for the climber who makes the financial commitment to purchase all the gear necessary for indoor climbing, a value of about $250.

For the experienced climber who spends $250 for the gear used indoors, the price increases considerably for the outdoor thrill seeker because of the cost of more equipment. Indoor facilities such as the Granite Arch provide rope, carabiners and the more prolific equipment necessary for climbing outdoors, also.

"Your additional investment for outdoor climbing could be anywhere from $250 to $1,000 and possibly even more depending on your equipment," Porter said. "In fact, I have about a $3,000 rack (all equipment combined)."

The Granite Arch climbing center is open Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (916) 852-ROCK.

Sports Briefs

Women's rowing wins regatta

The crew of London Mackey, Abagail Smyth, Heather Watson, Christina Clinton and coxswain Sabrina Lou covered the 2,000-meter course in a time of 7:31.75, downing second-place finisher Rochester by nearly five seconds (7:36.41).

"If we hadn't won it, it really could have compromised our chances for selection (to the NCAA Championships) in the four," CSUS head rowing coach Bill Zack said.

"It certainly doesn't hurt us and can help us by the size of our victory." Sacramento State returns to action this Saturday and Sunday, as they host the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships at Lake Natoma.

Men's tennis player earns Big Sky MVP

Teammates Erik Nelson-Kortland and Jordan Boyls joined Weiss on the All-Conference first team. Boyls was named to the first team last year as a freshman, and it was the first time for the freshman Nelson-Kortland.

Weiss, a junior from Santa Monica, defeated Mark Daniel of Montana State in the conference championship singles match.

Women's tennis player, Nicole Jackson, was also named to the Big Sky All-Conference first team.