Fall workouts already have come to a close for many programs. There also are programs still in the midst of workouts.

The goal of every team this fall is the same, though. Everyone wants to fill in their holes and improve their weak spots in hopes of reaching the College World Series in 2010.

In our weekly trip around the nation, we get the latest on fall workouts at Cal State Fullerton, East Carolina, Southern Mississippi and Kentucky.

Fullerton and Southern Miss both hope to make returns trips to Omaha in the spring. East Carolina, meanwhile, has one more step to take to get to Omaha. Kentucky, though, has high hopes even after failing to make a regional last season.

Around the nation

• Cal State Fullerton has missed outstanding shortstop Christian Colon this fall because of an injury, but other players have risen to the occasion and given Dave Serrano and his staff something to get excited about. Serrano believes the pitching staff has a chance to be great with several talented arms on the roster. Additionally, the offense is filled with young, but very talented players. Pitchers that are having impressive falls include Colin O'Connell, Dylan Floro, David Hurlbut and Raymond Hernandez ... Offensively, Nick Ramirez, Carlos Lopez and Corey Jones are elevating their games. Ramirez was a big-time power producer last season and is continuing where he left off as a freshman. Lopez and Jones, though, missed last season because of injuries. Both players are primed to be power producers in the spring. The Titans believe Jones is coming back a vengeance and Lopez is a hitter with a very high ceiling ... While the offense and pitching staff are garnering plenty of attention this fall, also keep an eye on the battle behind the plate between Billy Marcoe, David Carrillo and Geno Escalante. All three are having good falls. Marcoe is a seasoned veteran, while Carrillo is a junior college transfer and Escalante is a true freshman.

• Kentucky will be back in an NCAA regional in the spring if it meets expectations. The Wildcats are having a good fall, but without ace pitcher James Paxton in the mix. Paxton has been sidelined because of knee surgery and just now is back to throwing bullpen sessions. The Wildcats expect to have him back at 100 percent for the season ... Speaking of pitchers, the Wildcats are extremely excited about talented sophomore Alex Meyer. Meyer put together a solid freshman campaign last season and is expected to be even better as a sophomore. UK coach Gary Henderson said last week that Meyer stayed in Lexington, Ky., throughout the summer and got bigger and stronger. As a matter of fact, he has climbed from 208 to 220 pounds from last season to now. Henderson also is impressed with Meyer's improved work ethic ... The Wildcats don't have a set weekend rotation outside of Paxton and Meyer. The third spot is open to a plethora of pitchers, including Sean Bouthilette, Logan Darnell, Braden Kapteyn, Taylor Rogers, Kyle Jackson and Jordan Cooper ... At the plate, the Wildcats are impressed with junior college transfer shortstop Taylor Black. They also are pleased with returnees Chad Wright, Keenan Wiley, Braden Kapteyn and Gunner Glad. Veteran catcher Marcus Ndiffer is a seasoned veteran, but really has caught the coaches' attention ... Henderson said he really likes the '10 team. He believes they'll be more offensive and have much more depth in the bullpen.

• East Carolina put together an impressive '09 campaign and was a couple wins away from advancing to the CWS. The Pirates came up short last season, but Omaha again will be the expectation for the upcoming season. There's a reason for that. The main reason is the fact coach Billy Godwin believes the '10 pitching staff will be the best he has had in Greenville, N.C., with the return of Brad Mincey, Seth Maness, Patrick Somers, Kevin Brandt and others. Godwin is most impressed with freshman right-handed pitcher Joseph Hughes. Hughes had a fantastic fall and is in the running for a spot in the weekend rotation ... Offensively, the Pirates obviously have a couple big holes to fill. However, they also welcome back several key hitters including Kyle Roller and Trent Whitehead, among others. The Pirates are pleased with the progressions made by sophomore Corey Thompson, juniors Austin Homan and Cam Freeman and freshmen John Wooten and Bryan Bass. Wooten also made waves at second base with his superior defensive skills. Also keep an eye on redshirt freshman Phillip Clark between now and the spring. Clark had a nice summer at the Cape Cod League and followed that up with an impressive fall. Godwin said he is in the mix in left field and first base ... In terms of areas that could improve, the Pirates are focused on team defense between now and the spring.

•  Southern Mississippi gave long-time coach Corky Palmer the perfect retirement present last season when it defeated Florida in the Gainesville Super Regional and reached the CWS. Now the Golden Eagles hope to return to Omaha with coach Scott Berry in charge. The Eagles certainly have some key holes to fill between now and the spring. Much focus has been on the mound, where the Eagles hope to create more depth to take some pressure off ace pitcher Todd McInnis. Berry believes that pitchers Cody Schlagel, Scott Copeland and junior college transfer Ryan MacNamara must rise to the occasion. Copeland had a very productive fall. Also keep an eye on sophomore transfer Mandella Mingo. Mingo, a left-handed pitcher, had an impressive fall and could be in the weekend rotation come spring ... In terms of position players, the Eagles believe Joey Archer has made a smooth transition from first to third base. Also, junior Adam Doleac has been a defensive surprise. The middle infield with shortstop BA Vollmuth and Taylor Walker leading the way. Walker was a third baseman last season, but made the move to second this fall.