PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

39. SAN FRANCISCO (39-23, lost in NCAA regionals).

Conference/Projected Finish: West Coast/2^nd (15-6, T-1^st in 2006; won conference post-season tournament).

Coach: Nino Giarratano (222-235, 8 years).

First Game: Feb. 2 at Fresno State .

OVERVIEW: USF made its first appearance in NCAA post-season play last year in more than 100 years of sponsoring baseball and will make another run this year with the return of junior LHP Aaron Poreda (8-5, 2.49) and all but two regulars. The Dons have bolstered the roster with three significant transfers: junior 3B Brian Chavez from College of the Canyons, junior LHP Matt Baugh from Arizona and junior RHP Tommy Peale from Long Beach City College. Baugh and Peale will move into the rotation behind Poreda.

X-Factor:  OF-LHP Luke Sommer has the ability to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Scott Cousins (.343-7-46; 4-3, 4.02), a two-way talent drafted in the second round a year ago. Sommer can run and hit, and has an above-average arm like Cousins, but will need to improve on his .263-3-32 numbers. He could also help the Dons on the mound, as well, as he was the winning pitcher in last summer’s Cape Cod League all-star game—though he was utilized only when both sides ran out of pitching. Sommer worked just four innings for the Dons last year.

TOP FRESHMAN: Alex Kalogrides, rhp. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder may eventually be a Friday starter for the Dons, but his role this season will range from midweek starter to one of the first couple of arms out of the bullpen. He’s a strike thrower with the makings of three quality pitches, including a fastball in the 89-92 mph range.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Zack Kim, of. One of only three sophomores on the roster, Kim (.278-2-19) returns to his role as a part-time outfielder. A lefthanded bat, he’s a gap-to-gap hitter capable of handling velocity and lefthanded pitching.

TOP JUNIOR: Aaron Poreda, lhp. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Poreda continues to edge closer to the first round of this year’s draft. He’s coming off a fine sophomore season, when his heavy fastball was clocked from 90-94 mph, and he improved his velocity on the pitch to 96 in the fall. His breaking stuff will have to improve, however, to push him over the top.

TOP SENIOR: Lucas Delong, of. DeLong (.259-8-29) led the Dons with eight home runs a year ago and is a Gold-Glove caliber defender in center field. His ability to hit for average is the only tool he lacks.