Northridge Has Big Double Play

Impassioned pleas to keep the baseball program from being eliminated are expected tonight at an open community forum held by the Cal State Northridge Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics.

An equally sound argument for the benefits of Matador baseball will be made tonight 3,000 miles away.

Adam Kennedy, Northridge’s All-American shortstop last season, is one of nine finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, the collegiate baseball equivalent to football’s Heisman Trophy and basketball’s John Wooden Award.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony tonight at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.

Kennedy, a first-round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals last June, is playing for the Hilo Stars in the Hawaii Winter League. He took an all-night flight and will arrive in New York this morning.

“Just to be nominated for this is an incredible feeling,” Kennedy said. “It’s strange that Northridge would even think about cutting baseball when it has done so much good for so many guys.

“And our team was so good, it gave the school great publicity.”

Certainly, the Golden Spikes ceremony will do so. The award, in its 20th year, is sponsored by USA Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Assn.

Matador Coach Mike Batesole and his wife, Suzie, will be in attendance along with Kennedy’s parents, Tom and Sue.

“I’m more excited for Batesole than for myself,” Kennedy said. “He deserves huge credit for this.”

Kennedy, who holds most Northridge batting records, is among an elite group that also includes pitcher Matt Anderson (Rice), first baseman Lance Berkman (Rice), third baseman Pat Burrell (Miami), outfielder J.D. Drew (Florida State), shortstop Troy Glaus (UCLA), pitcher Tim Hudson (Auburn), shortstop Brandon Larson (Louisiana State) and outfielder Roberto Vaz (Alabama).

Also honored will be Florida Marlins catcher Charles Johnson as alumnus of the year.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds will present the Golden Spikes Award and New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre will present an award to the coach of the year.

“I worked hard at Northridge and it paid off,” Kennedy said. “The baseball program does a lot of good for the school’s reputation.”