Columnist: Coach says LaRosa gem on, off field

Tuesday, May 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

WITHOUT A dictionary or a thesaurus, UNLV baseball coach Fred Dallimore still managed to rattle off a lengthy list of descriptive words and phrases on the subject of staff ace Tom LaRosa. It became apparent in quick order that the pitcher's No. 1 fan also happens to manage the team.

Accolades don't always come easy from Dallimore but he had them by the bushel for LaRosa, who, as much as anyone, is the reason the Rebels are 43-15, the Big West Conference tournament champions and headed for the NCAA regionals next week.

With a 9-1 record, the junior from Green Valley High realized the high hopes for success that accompanied him to UNLV after he had gone 19-1 with the Gators.

"This is a great kid, the kind of young man anyone would be proud to have as a son," Dallimore said in a statement sure to find its way to the LaRosa family scrapbook. "His morals, his character traits are all top of the line. He gives a quality effort in everything he does."

There was more praise, then more praise after that as Dallimore took the topic to a crescendo. It was good stuff about the "focus, commitment and concentration" LaRosa keeps in abundant supply.

"Of course, it's a lot easier to win when you're getting six runs a game and playing in front of a great defensive team like we have," LaRosa said in a remark that demonstrated a certain humility as well. But his point is astute and well taken, as the Rebels were more dominant than the casual observer might realize, outhitting opponents by 55 points (.333 to .278) while committing 77 fewer errors (76 to 153).

Nonetheless, LaRosa won all but one of his 10 decisions, had a 3.55 ERA and excellent ratios in hits and walks to innings pitched.

"He was never really wild wild," Dallimore said of LaRosa's freshman and sophomore seasons in which he totaled five more walks than strikeouts while going 9-10 with a 5.73 ERA. This season he has exactly twice as many strikeouts as walks (98 to 49), the result, LaRosa says "of learning to go right at the hitters. A lot of my success is based on throwing strikes and giving the team a chance to win."

He's just what the Rebels needed after All-America candidate Nate Yeskie spent most of the season on the disabled list with a lingering arm ailment. And the fact that he stepped up came as no surprise to Dallimore.

"Tommy never, ever felt he was No. 2 to Nate," he said. "In his own heart and mind and in his conversations with me, it was always 'Give me the ball and I'll get us in the win column.'"

LaRosa has shown enough that Dallimore knows he won't have the right-hander back for his senior season. When the pros have their amateur draft next month, look for LaRosa to go as high as the fifth round.

"He's gone," Dallimore said.

"I definitely am," LaRosa said, when asked if he was excited about turning pro.

The transition shouldn't be too tough, even for a guy who is only 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds. What he lacks in size he compensates for in strength of character. /endstory