BRUINS, MATADORS HAVE NEW LOOK.

Byline: LEE BARNATHAN University Beat

Stacey Nuveman and Janet Sherman don't need a scorecard to tell one softball player from another. Followers of the UCLA and Cal State Northridge softball teams mgiht, however, might.

Each team's roster is composed of about half returning players, meaning there are plenty of newcomers to get to know. Also, you might not see returnees at the same position.

Coach Sue Enquist said Nuveman, UCLA's catcher, might play third and first base. Pitcher Courtney Dale will also play right field. Sophomore Toria Auelua will play third base, catcher and right field. And sophomore Tahria Mims will play first base, catcher, right field and possibly third.

It's the same way at CSUN. Ui Bal, the Matadors' second baseman last year, is now either in the outfield or at designated hitter. Kim Mutaw, from Valencia High, might show up at second base, third base or shortstop. Freshman Christin Bedwell is slotted at first base, left field and designated player.

``I have a lot of options,'' coach Janet Sherman said. ``February, with all the games and tournaments, it's exciting. I've got wonderful choices to make.''

The teams open play Saturday at a tournament in San Jose. A closer look at the two teams:

--CSUN: Poor sports and poorer attitudes marked last year's 26-26-1 team, so Sherman asked some people to leave and recruited accordingly. The results have the players telling their coach, ``We like this team.''

``The chemistry's been good,'' Sherman said. ``The kids get along well. They pick each other up when they need to. You'll see the difference.''

Whether it translates into more victories remains to be seen. There's a lot of new players to integrate, plus plenty of returners to get used to new positions.

Only five positions are set: pitchers Sarah Farnworth (Sr., 18-16, 1.83 ERA, All-Big West honorable mention) and Summer Richardson (Jr., 7-9, 2.24), catchers Amber Grahlman (So., .189 avg.) and Sara Cueva (Sr., .063, .989 field percentage), third baseman Veronica Lopez (Sr., .272, six HR, 21 RBI), freshman shortstop Amber Copelan and junior center fielder Megan Finnerty.

CSUN also recruited some speed in Sondra Milchiker, who could start in right field, and Bedwell to go along with the free-swinging Bal, Lopez and Farnworth.

--UCLA: The defending national runners-up are ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll. Of course, the Bruins (42-12-1 last season) view the positional shuffling as a sign of versatility and depth.

Enquist said she has an idea of who she wants to put where but reserves final judgment until after some games.

The only set infield position is shortstop, where All-America sophomore Natasha Watley (.426, 48 runs, 32 SB) reigns. She'll also bat leadoff. Watley beat out Chrissy Buck for this spot, so Buck likely will move to second base, where she'll compete with senior Casey Hiraiwa and sophomore Monique Mejia. Mejia was an outfielder last year, and Hiraiwa appeared in just 16 games.

The pitching circle also is set, with Dale (8-3, 1.90 ERA, .293, four HR, 25 RBI),junior Amanda Freed (28-8, 1.25 ERA, .313, three HR, 40 RBI) still around and senior Stephanie Swenson (10-1, 0.81 ERA) still around.

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Photo: UCLA catcher Stacey Nuveman might play third or first base this season.

Courtesy of UCLA