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Cesar Ramos Featured In Hometown Paper

Ramos a perfect fit as new Long Beach ace

Cesar Ramos understands the role and accepts the responsibility.

Just don't expect the former El Rancho High School star to change his approach now that he's the Long Beach State baseball team's ace, a role previously held by All- Americans Abe Alvarez and Jered Weaver.

"We've had some great guys (pitch) on Friday night,' Ramos said. "Now I get my shot. I hope I can fill their shoes. But I just take it as another night that I get to pitch. I just want to go out there, pitch and do my best.'

So far, he's done a pretty good job.

Ramos, a preseason All-American, has been dominant. He's won six of his first nine decisions with a 1.61 ERA in 10 starts, including three consecutive complete-game victories in his last three outings.

"It started slow, but it's getting better,' Ramos said. "I just try to get better every time I go out there. This year, I just wanted to be better than I was last year. I'm not too big on numbers. My only goal is to help the team get to (Omaha, Neb.) and the College World Series.'

Ramos, an all-area player his senior year at El Rancho, almost turned pro out of high school. He was selected in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball entry draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but decided on Long Beach State after negotiations broke down.

"I really wanted to (turn pro),' Ramos said. "The organization (Tampa Bay) just didn't seem like it was high priority. So I took this route. It's really worked out for the better.'

Long Beach State would agree.

Ramos has been solid since he arrived. He was a steady 6-4 with a 2.85 ERA as the No. 3 starter behind Alvarez and Weaver in 2003. Then while Weaver was earning National Pitcher of the Year honors, Ramos hovered under the radar with a 12-4 record and a 2.29 ERA to earn second-team All-America.

"We knew what we were getting,' Long Beach State coach Mike Weathers said. "He was good enough (out of high school) to be drafted in the sixth round, so we knew he could compete at this level.

"We've been fortunate in my time here to have guys like (Alvarez and Weaver). But Cesar has made his own name for himself.'

Some of that reputation came this past summer when Ramos helped Team USA earn a gold medal at the World Championships in Taiwan. He was 3-2 with a 3.22 ERA.

He's picked it up this spring, especially during his past three outings, when he tossed consecutive complete games and beat highly-touted Mike Pelfrey of Wichita State and Ricky Romero of Cal State Fullerton.

He hopes to continue it during the back half of the season and help the Dirtbags, ranked No. 20 by Collegiate Baseball last week, reach the Division I promised land Omaha.

Long Beach State was close last season, advancing to the Super Regionals before losing on the final day to Arizona.

"We still have a lot of baseball left, but we're playing very well right now,' Ramos said. "We just have to keep doing that. That's what's going to carry us and put us over that hump.'

Ramos has also put aside his pro aspirations until the end of the season.

"(The draft), that's something I can't control,' he said. "Whichever team drafts me, it won't effect how I play.

"I'm here to help us get to the CWS. That's my concern now. I will worry about the draft later.'...