Baseball feature

Double Duty

By Mike Cisneros
Assistant Sports Editor

e is USC baseball's version of "Slash."
When Trojan baseball player Jason Lane comes to Dedeaux Field before a game, it's possible that he could play any position on the field.
Lane can play pitcher-designated hitter-outfielder-infielder at any time during a game.
However, what junior transfer is best known for this season is both pitching and being the starting designated hitter -- often in the same game.
"I would rather play a position than (designated hitter) all the time because I want to be out in the game," Lane said. "But I like my role of hitting and pitching for sure."
For the Trojans, Lane has appeared in 11 games for USC this season, and he has a 3-0 record with a 2.82 ERA. Opponents are averaging only .208 against him in his 22 1/3 innings of work.
However, don't expect Lane's hitting to slack while he's on the mound. So far this season, Lane is 7-for-10 (.700) as the designated hitter while he is pitching at the same time.
And Lane was recently made USC's third starting pitcher, so the Trojans are expecting even more from their versatile player.
"Sometimes I feel like when I'm pitching, my hitting seems to come around a little bit," Lane said. "I don't know if it's because I'm in the game more. I've always been able to separate them, though. When I'm doing bad at the plate, I usually can still pitch all right."
It is rather unusual for a player to be both a pitcher and a hitter at the same time, considering all college baseball teams have a designated hitter rule by which pitchers don't come up to bat.
However, Lane has been used to playing both ways, especially with his days at Santa Rosa Junior College -- where Lane attended before transferring to USC.
"It is uncommon for him to play both ways," said Santa Rosa Coach Ron Myers, who coached Lane for two years. "Very seldom have I seen a player who can play both. But he's proven that he can be a force at the Division I level while he was (at Santa Rosa).
"He's a tremendous competitor. He works extremely hard. He's probably the most competitive player I've ever coached."
Lane's competitive nature has already led to a successful career for the 6-foot-2, 205-pound player.
He began his collegiate career at Santa Rosa, where he was a pitcher and an outfielder. In his freshman season, Lane hit a solid .302 with five home runs and 44 RBIs. On the mound, he posted a 7-4 record with a 2.85 ERA.
In 1997, Lane went from having a solid season to a breakthrough year.
During his sophomore season, Lane exploded for Santa Rosa, hitting .320 with 50 RBIs. In the process, Lane broke the school's 22-year-old home run record for most home runs in a season with 17, burying the old mark of 10 set in 1974. He also broke the all-time RBI record.
And if that wasn't enough, Lane was selected as the 1997 California Junior College Northern California Player of the Year, and was named the Bay Valley Conference Most Valuable Player.
"That was pretty exciting," Lane said of his awards. "That was probably the first time I had some really big recognition. I wasn't sure if I was going to get it or not, but I knew I had a pretty good year."
By this time, USC Coach Mike Gillespie and USC pitching coach John Savage had taken notice of Lane and were actively recruiting him.
However, it was during Lane's high school years at El Molino High School when Gillespie first heard the name of Jason Lane.
Lane's name was first given to Gillespie by Bob Leslie, the head baseball coach at Casa Grande High School -- El Molino's rival school.
Gillespie then kept loose tabs on Lane, all the way throughout his summer playing days for the Alaska Goldpanners. By the time summer was over, Lane had been recruited to play for the Trojans.
"We kept hearing good things, but it became apparent that we were going to lose one, if not two, guys in the draft," Gillespie said. "It turned out to be three. In anticipation of that, we went back and checked on him and stepped up the process."
With his recruitment to the baseball team, Lane has smoothly jumped from Santa Rosa to USC and firmly planted himself as an important contributor to the Trojans.
"It hasn't been all that tough," Lane said of his transition to USC. "I've played with a lot of guys who've played at this level. The work habits I've learned (at Santa Rosa), have also helped me, and it's carried over to here."
As a hitter, Lane is hitting .323 this season with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. He is also second on the team with 24 runs scored.
But, more importantly, Lane has brought more firepower to an already-powerful Trojan offense.
"His role is an important one," Gillespie said. "If you're gonna pitch to (Jeremy) Freitas, who else is coming up? Can you pitch around Freitas to get to Lane? Well, you'd better not pitch around Freitas to get to Lane."
On the pitching side, Lane's role has also been crucial to the success of the team.
"He's done well in the role in which we used him," Gillespie said. "He doesn't overpower batters. But nothing is going to shake him. Nothing is going to rattle him. You pretty much know what you're gonna get.
"We've changed his role already. But certainly, he will pitch in a key role. He's been a starter once, and he's been in a setup role.... That setup deal gets kind of lost in terms of the significance of it, but I think he's demonstrated to us how important it is."
With his impressive performances already this season, the Trojans hope that Lane can only get better. And as he gets better, Lane already feels as if he belongs.
"I've gotten along great," Lane said. "Everyone's been really accepting and made it really easy to make me feel like I was part of the team."