CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE NOTEBOOK : BUBB CAN'T OFFER JOB TO BATESOLE YET.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

Cal State Northridge athletic director Paul Bubb is enjoying this ride as much as anybody.

And he is obviously biting his tongue, bound by his job not to do what he really wants, but coming as close as possible.

Bubb is required by California State University system policy to open up the baseball coaching job, meaning he must advertise the position and solicit resumes.

That means that even with more than 50 wins, interim coach Mike Batesole must compete like everyone else for the job.

``I've tried to give him assurances, but he is not guaranteed the job,'' Bubb said. ``He's done an outstanding job. He's put himself in a great position to be a head coach.''

The 31-year-old Batesole, in his first year as a head coach at any level, has not even said he is interested in the job. With a wife and four young children, he is interested in security.

He has said he has applied for jobs at other institutions. His name has been mentioned along with the vacant Loyola Marymount job and a few junior college jobs.

``He has not told me that,'' Bubb said Saturday when asked about Batesole looking elsewhere for a job.

While saying nothing but positive things about Batesole publicly, Bubb cannot give him an official endorsement.

He is well aware of Batesole's accomplishments, though, in taking a team that finished below .500 the past two seasons to the Western Athletic Conference title and the NCAA Regionals.

``We could have some good people look at (the job), but he's put himself in a good position,'' Bubb said. ``He did a good job recruiting and now he's taken the next step . He's handled the on-field responsibilities.

Kennedy keeps 'em talking: Robert Crabtree shook his head and wore the expression of someone who has brushed with greatness.

``If we win this thing that guy is the MVP,'' Crabtree said of teammate Adam Kennedy after Saturday's 20-19 victory over Mississippi State.

Kennedy was 5 for 6 with five RBI and four runs scored in that game. His second grand slam in as many games gave Northridge an 8-0 lead in the first inning.

Through four games, he was batting .650 (13 for 20) with three homers and 12 RBI.

Mississippi State catcher Blake Anderson, who played against Kennedy in the Alaskan League, was not surprised. Kennedy was MVP of the league this past summer.

``I knew he was a great hitter,'' Anderson said.