ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605290060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
If William Paterson (N.J.) catcher Dan Lauterhahn wants the feel of home when he's on the baseball field, he has other options than just leaning forward and touching the plate. A seat in the dugout works, too.
That's where he can find his father, Bob, sitting and coaching the Pioneers' outfielders and third basemen.
Dan Lauterhahn is the third member of his family to be immersed in the tradition of William Paterson baseball. He made his niche even bigger in the 10th inning Saturday when he drilled a hard single down the third-base line and later scored the winning run to beat Upper Iowa 2-1 in the winners' bracket of the NCAA Division III baseball championship.
William Paterson (35-4-1) advanced to face Wisconsin-Oshkosh tonight at 7.
Pioneers coach Jeff Albies, who makes it clear there's no place for mushiness when there's a championship up for grabs, gushed when talking of Lauterhahn's hit.
``I don't get seniors who produce as much as he does when the pressure's on, and he's only a sophomore,'' he said.
Albies, who Saturday earned his 600th career victory, could have gushed about the play that got Lauterhahn to third, but he let out a deep breath instead. Lauterhahn advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Dan Egbert.
``The way he was bunting,'' Albies said, ``you never want to see him bunt, but he did a good job today.''
Egbert laid it down the third-base line, where Peacocks third baseman Jeremy Grace picked it up and threw into right field.
``I couldn't believe when I put it down,'' Egbert said.
Lauterhahn's roommate, Mark DeManna, singled through a drawn-in infield to win the game.
The Lauterhahn family has been involved in many victories in William Paterson history. Bob Lauterhahn is in his 16th season as a coach and was a star pitcher for the Pioneers before that. Dan's older brother, Mike, played in the William Paterson outfield in 1993 and 1994 after transferring from Rutgers-Newark, where he played basketball.
Some could say that being away from his father factored into his decision, but that wasn't the case. Bob Lauterhahn also is known as one of the top basketball officials in New Jersey. ``They never get rid of me,'' he said.
Mike Lauterhahn later was drafted and played in the Chicago Cubs farm system. ``It was great signing a pro contract, but the best two years I had was playing at William Paterson,'' he said.
Dan, Mike and Bob Lauterhahn have been in the dugout every time the Pioneers have played in the Division III baseball championship series. Their direct involvement began in 1982, William Paterson's first series appearance, when the sons served as bat boys.
From the first day he knew what a baseball was, Dan Lauterhahn had a love for William Paterson baseball. Albies had already coached the Pioneers for two years when Dan was born in 1976.
``He never wanted to play for the Yankees,'' said Bob Lauterhahn. ``He wanted to play for William Paterson.''
Having his father in the dugout only made him want a Paterson jersey more.
``It's definitely something special,'' said Mike Lauterhahn. ``A lot of kids get to do it in Little League, but to do it at this level is unique.''
``I don't deal with him as much as I do Coach Albies,'' said Dan, who receives infield instruction from his head coach. ``Dad and I talk about off-the-field things. It's nice to have somebody there.''
Albies, who led the Pioneers to the national championship in 1992, is Dan Lauterhahn's second dugout father figure. The fact that Albies was a second baseman helps their relationship.
``I've known him as long as I've known my father,'' Dan Lauterhahn said. ``He teaches me a lot of things he knows, and he knows a lot. You don't win 600 games for nothing."
It takes more than the two sons fathered by Bob Lauterhahn to win that many. Over the past 22 years, Albies has raised hundreds of baseball players. Winning moment No.600 provides a good time for them to thank him.
``We said before the season we wanted to get Coach Albies his 600th win,'' said star shortstop Brian Lindner. ``He does a lot for us.''
Sensing Lindner was getting a little mushy, Albies told him, ``Don't start with that love business.''
Leave it to a father, or father figure, to keep his boys in line. There's no time for sweet nothings when there's a championship to be won.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh 11, Methodist (N.C.) 5: The Titans scored eight runs in the sixth inning and came from behind to beat the Monarchs.
It was the Titans' first championship series victory over Methodist in four tries. Methodist pitcher Ernie Miller, who pitched 61/3 innings for a victory in his team's first game, came on in the sixth and allowed three of the eight runs.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh all-America outfielder Jeff Zappa extended his hitting streak to 27 games, and his RBI single in the sixth gave the Titans their first lead at 4-3.
There will be three games today, beginning at noon, when Cal Lutheran meets Upper Iowa. Methodist faces Bridgewater (Mass.) State at 3:30 p.m., and William Paterson will meet Wisconsin-Oshkosh at 7.
LENGTH: Medium: 93 linesby CNB