THE FRESNO CITY AZTECS

Rams pitchers Steven Moranda and Robert Alcala will both play for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State.

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer-

One is a 6′2″ 195 pound soft spoken right hander from Buchanan, the other a 5′10″ 170 pound outgoing left hander from Liberty-Madera Ranchos. Steven Moranda and Robert Alcala couldn’t be more different, from the way they pitch to their demeanor. But they’ll both continue their careers together in sunny San Diego, with Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn as their head coach in Aztec land.

“He talked to us briefly, but he sold me,” said Moranda, the former Buchanan Bear right hander. “The whole atmosphere, it’s a good place to live. I really like the coaches and Tony Gwynn is a good guy to play for.”

“The first day, they showed us around campus, and the next morning we’re sitting there having breakfast with him (Gwynn) just having a normal conversation like we’ve been talking to him every day,” said Alcala. “It’s going to be pretty exciting.”

Alcala says a sales pitch from Gwynn wasn’t necessary.

“He didn’t even need one,” Alcala said. “He’s a Hall of Famer and I think its going to be a great opportunity for me and Steve to play for him along with the great players and coaching staff San Diego State has to offer.”

As for the present, Alcala has emerged as the leader of Fresno City’s pitching staff. After his complete game four-hit shutout of College of the Sequoias Tuesday, he improved to 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA IN 12 appearances, striking out 66 in 53.2 innings with just 13 walks. Moranda is 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 49.1 innings of work. Alcala has the 5th best earned run average in the Central Valley Conference. Moranda is 6th.

“Both Steven and Robert have been great pitchers for us, and certainly provided us with a foundation at the start of the year,” said Rams pitching coach Eric Solberg. “And while it took them a little bit getting on track this year, they certainly are starting to move forward. They’re great guys, great guys for our team and really Division One guys. San Diego State’s lucky to get them.”

Gwynn will also get two guys with completely different mound makeups.

“Steven’s a little more laid back and Robert’s more of an aggressive personality,” Solberg said. That’s one of the great things about coaching is you coach each guy a little bit differently and bring them along differently.”

The two are also good friends. Moranda and Alcala took their recruiting trip to San Diego State together and they’ll be roommates once they move down there. Both guys throw in the high 80’s to low 90’s and hope to make an immediate impact, whether it be in the starting rotation or the bullpen. But they don’t want to leave Fresno without putting another ball on the outfield wall, a.k.a. a state championship.

“We definitely want to finish it up here with a state championship,” said Moranda. “It would really be a nice way to end my career here.”

“As far as this season, this is kind of the only thing I’m focusing on,” Alcala said. “I’m going to try as hard as I can to go out there every outing and give my team the best shot to hopefully win a state title.”

The Hall of Famer is waiting in the on-deck circle.

THIS AND THAT: The Rams are 8-3 in conference play and 18-10 overall… Merced is in first place in the CVC with COS in second and the Rams third… Moranda will start Saturday against the Giants at Euless Park with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.

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