June 15 , 2007

Horton, Serrano seeking success

By JANIS CARR

OMAHA, Neb. They have worn the same jerseys at two schools, so it's easy to see how George Horton and Dave Serrano seem to be cut from the same cloth.

The Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine baseball coaches are competitive and hard-working, willing to throw one more round of batting practice if it means success.

They are passionate about their sport, speaking non-stop to reporters, coaches and aspiring young players about the beauty of baseball until their voices are raspy.

They are family men, juggling children and wives around games on the road, practices and three dozen or more players. Even their families are close. Serrano's wife is planning Horton's daughter's wedding.

They are also detail-oriented, though Serrano doesn't walk around with a notebook full of scribbled memos and penciled reminders. You won't see Horton without his lists.

"That's because he's smarter than I am and can remember everything," Horton said.

They are combative rivals, and yet when the final out is called, they are the best of friends.

"I'm not going to talk about Dave Serrano. I haven't talked to him since he beat us two out of three," Horton jokingly said at Thursday's news conference at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Serrano was a bit more sincere.

"He's like a second father to me. He's a best friend to me," Serrano said. "When we meet on the field, he wants to win and I want to win, so sometimes we get into a heated battle on the field like most coaches do. But once it is over, you reflect back on what he means to me."

Irvine is making its first appearance at Rosenblatt Stadium after compiling a 40-15-1 regular-season record and 5-0 postseason mark, a reflection of Serrano's commitment to elevating the program.

"My goal when I took over the program three years ago was to bring national recognition to this program," Serrano said. "Never in a million years did I think it would happen so quickly."

Serrano's desire to return to Omaha stems from his experiences in his eight seasons as an assistant to Horton at Fullerton. As pitching coach, Serrano helped guide the Titans to the 2004 national championship and he was recognized as assistant coach of the year.

Yet their relationship goes back even further.

Serrano played for Horton at Cerritos College and later joined Horton in the dugout as an assistant. When Horton moved to Fullerton, Serrano became the Falcons coach.

In 1995, Serrano received an offer from the University of Tennessee to be an assistant. Unsure of whether to accept the job, Serrano's first call was to Horton, then an assistant at Fullerton.

"I had a decision to make, and I will never forget the words he said," Serrano said. "He said it's something you need to do, get at that level and recruit at that level and when I get my job, we'll get back together wherever that will be."

That would be in Fullerton in 1996. When Horton replaced Augie Garrido as Titans coach and went looking to build a staff, his first call was to the Tennessee baseball offices. Horton figured Serrano's people skills would be beneficial in recruiting, and his pitching skills would translate into results.

"(I hired him for) his work ethic, tenacity, intelligence and he has a great rapport with everyone," Horton said. "He understood the science of pitching, but most of all, I think it is his people skills."

Titans assistant Bill Kernen said Searrano and Horton are different in some ways. Horton is self-effacing and talks in the third person, while Serrano is outgoing and confident. Not necessarily like father, like son. But close.

"This reminds me of 2004, when I was here with (Texas coach) Augie Garrido, but I guess this time I'm the father," Horton said.

"Didn't the son beat the father that year?" Serrano asked, referring to Fullerton's victory against Texas in the championship round.

"Yeah, but we're going to change that this year," Horton said. "Graciously, he's going to bow out if we happen to play each other."

Like a good son, Serrano didn't argue. He only laughed.