BASEBALL: STANFORD HOPES 3RD TIME BRINGS TITLE.

Byline: CHRIS COCOLES College Baseball 

Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium keeps breaking Scott Dragicevich's heart. But like the rest of his Stanford teammates, Dragicevich can't resist the temptation of the College World Series.

The Cardinal has reached the final the past two years but hasn't come away with a title.

``Would we like to win it? Yes,'' Dragicevich said of two consecutive CWS championship-game defeats - 6-5 to Louisiana State in 2000 and 12-1 to Miami in 2001. ``I think we're filling out our potential.''

Dragicevich, a shortstop from Westlake High, is part of a senior class likely Omaha-bound for a fourth consecutive time, barring a postseason flop. Certainly No. 2 Stanford (22-7, 2-1) is playing like a champion entering this weekend's key Pacific-10 Conference series against another CWS regular, USC (18-14, 5-1), in the Bay Area.

Of course, Stanford has two NCAA championship flags (1987 and '88) and an experienced group capable of adding another this season. So, it's not as if they need incentive.

``Everybody says that,'' coach Mark Marquess said. ``Getting there is the hard thing. And you play well (until the championship game). And yeah, we want to win the whole thing. But I'm very proud of them.''

Especially his senior infield. Dragicevich, second baseman Chris O'Riordan, first baseman Arik Van Zandt and third baseman Andy Topham were on the bench as freshmen but waited their turns to contribute.

``It's a test of patience for any player going to Stanford. Because everyone is a great high school player and you've got to weed out from them who's going to play,'' said O'Riordan, one of the nation's best. ``Last year we got our butts kicked pretty good. But to get to that game and not win two years in a row, we've got a bitter taste in our mouths.''

Stanford has its usual solid pitching, led by All-American Jeremy Guthrie, two-way star catcher Ryan Garko, slugging sophomore outfielder Carlos Quentin and its seasoned senior infield to remedy what's been missing.

``We just weren't able to win the big game,'' Dragicevich said.

--Add USC-Stanford: Saturday's 1 p.m. game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net. ... For all the Trojans' early struggles, they're atop the Pac-10 after Stanford's suspended game at Arizona on Sunday was ruled a 15-13 victory for the Wildcats. The Cardinal's travel commitment forced them to halt the game after eight innings. But the conference ruled the game won't be continued.

--A Bright day in Malibu: Cory Brightwell is the typical Pepperdine Wave - the sophomore left fielder stands 5-foot-8. But the Texan is producing runs well enough (four homers, 19 RBI and a team-high .361 average) to merit the high-profile third spot in the order.

``He's a gamer,'' said coach Frank Sanchez, whose Waves lead the West Coast Conference's Coast Division resembling nothing like 2001's prospect-heavy team. ``In order for us to be good, we're going to have to be gamers. Because we're not going to knock anybody's eyes out.''

--Check swings: Cal State Northridge, in a three-way tie for first in the Big West Conference at 5-1 (all games on the road), gets consecutive series with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Sacramento State at Matador Field. CSUN then plays at defending champion Cal State Fullerton. The return of first baseman Tim Arroyo last weekend at UC Riverside increases the Matadors' conference-championship hopes. ...

Rice sophomore catcher/DH Matt Cunningham (Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks) took this season off while remaining in school. But an Owls spokesman said Cunningham reportedly will transfer after asking for his release.

Pepperdine freshman second baseman/pitcher Steven Kleen is out for at least a month after breaking the middle finger in his throwing hand during an intrasquad game.