PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

27. PEPPERDINE (42-21, lost in NCAA regionals).

Conference/Projected Finish: West Coast/1^st (15-6, T-1^st in 2006).

Coach: Steve Rodriguez (113-76, 3 years).

First Game: Feb. 2 at Nevada-Las Vegas.

OVERVIEW: The Waves face some minor rebuilding as they must replace three of their top four hitters and two of their three primary starting pitchers. But the cupboard is hardly bare as five regulars, including sophomore 3B Chase D’Arnaud (.282-2-22), junior OF Adrian Ortiz (.340-1-28) and junior SS Danny Worth (.310-3-38), are back. So are the best arms on the pitching staff. Junior RHP Barry Enright (13-2, 4.05), a command specialist, is the unqualified ace and sophomore RHP Brett Hunter (5-3, 2.83), a projected 2008 first-rounder, is a rising star in the bullpen.

X-Factor: LHP Bryce Stowell and junior RHP Adam Olbrychowski (2-4, 4.61) were named the top prospects in the Central Illinois Collegiate and Clark Griffith Leagues, respectively, last summer. But Stowell subsequently transferred to UC Irvine, where he will be ineligible to pitch until 2008, and Olbrychowski failed to secure a spot in the weekend rotation heading into the season, despite his 96 mph fastball. Junior RHP Jason Dominguez (6-1, 3.52) and UCLA transfer Robert Dickmann grabbed the two starting spots behind Enright.

TOP FRESHMAN: Travis Tartamella, c. One of the top prep catchers in the 2006 class, Tartamella is a solid all-around talent who should be a capable replacement for three-year starter Chad Tracy (.315-6-46), a third-round pick in last year’s draft.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Brett Hunter, rhp. Hunter saved 11 games as a freshman, and is capable of more in 2007 as he improved his slider and changeup over the summer to go with his 90-94 mph fastball.

TOP JUNIOR: Adrian Ortiz, of. Ortiz is Pepperdine’s leading returning hitter, but has barely scratched the surface of his ability after being drafted in the fifth round in 2004 out of a Puerto Rico high school. One of the fastest players in that draft, he is still learning to utilize his speed on the bases.

TOP SENIOR: Luke Salas, of. Seniors played a prominent role on last year’s West Coast Conference regular-season champions, but Salas (.288-1-32), a returning starter in left field, is the only senior assured regular playing time.