PK Park, and George Horton's baseball Ducks, will be ready for first pitch

It'll take time to build depth, but coach's goal is to make NCAA tournament, and go from there

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Aug 17, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (10 Reader comments)

COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

Oregon's baseball coach, George Horton (center), and Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny are looking forward to having the new, 4,000-seat PK Park ready by Feb. 1 for the Ducks' return to competition in 2009.

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It’s a risky limb to climb to predict Oregon is going to make the NCAA tournament next spring in its first season playing baseball since 1981.

I won’t be flabbergasted, though, if the Ducks make the Big 64 in their first year under George Horton.

Ask the coach about goals and he’ll start off sounding a little conservative. Only for a couple of seconds, though.

“We’re not going to have upperclassmen who have been around our program to serve as an extension of the coaches and provide leadership,” says Horton, who spent 11 seasons running the powerful Cal State Fullerton program. “Taking that into account, to finish above .500 overall and .500 in the greatest conference in the country, most people would be happy with that.”

A winning Pac-10 record would likely get you into the NCAA playoffs, George.

“I’ve never coached a team where I didn’t think we were going to (make it),” says Horton, whose Fullerton teams made the College World Series six times. “We’ll talk about that when we meet with our kids next month.

“I don’t know how realistic it is, but on a personal basis, I’ll be disappointed if we don’t make the playoffs. I’ve been spoiled, but every team I’ve coached has looked not only to get into the playoffs, but to get into the final round.”

I didn’t ask, but I took that to mean the College World Series.

Horton isn’t exactly aiming low.

But why should he? The man brings instead credibility to the program with one national championship (2004), two national coach of the year awards (‘03 and ‘04) and a 490-212 record at Fullerton.

There is no shortage of resources at Oregon. The Ducks will start out with the NCAA-maximum 11.7 scholarships in their first season.

“Our administration gave us permission to use (the maximum), if we chose to do that,” says Horton, 54. “We’re already probably long shots to be competitive in my first year. I couldn’t see stairstepping that, waiting four or five years to get competitive.

“I wouldn’t have taken this job under those circumstances. It’s going to be a tough enough challenge to begin with, anyway.”

Groundbreaking for the new 4,000-seat ballpark, to be located adjacent to Autzen Stadium, is set for Friday. Phase one of construction on the field is expected to be completed by Feb. 1, so the Ducks will play next season there. The name is “pretty much a done deal,” says Horton, and it’s ingenious — PK Park.

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