CALIFORNIA REJECTS TURN OUT TO BE ACES FOR UNLV.

Byline: ERIC SONDHEIMER

It was the ``Revenge of the California Kids'' last weekend, when Nevada-Las Vegas came to town and beat UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State to win the Big West Conference baseball tournament championship in Fullerton.

``No one recruited us out of high school,'' said UNLV catcher Stacy Kleiner, an ex-Taft High star speaking for the Rebels' large California contingent. ``They (the Rebels) were the only ones who liked us. It kind of backfired on everybody.''

Ted Wilkes, the tournament MVP, is from Mission Viejo. Ryan Hankins, UNLV's star sophomore third baseman hitting .370 with 64 RBI, is from Simi Valley. Kleiner, who has started 114 consecutive games over the past two seasons, is from Tarzana. Rob Luce, the team's closer with nine saves, is from Cameron Park in Northern California.

``Everyone seemed surprised how well we were doing,'' Kleiner said.

UNLV is 43-15 and deserves a strong seeding when the 48-team NCAA tournament field is announced Monday.

Kleiner and Hankins have become top collegiate players under coach Fred Dallimore. Kleiner, who has started at second base, shortstop and now catcher over the past three seasons, is hitting .366 with a career-high 12 home runs and 59 RBI. Each year, his hitting has improved, and his versatility makes him invaluable.

Hankins has been so impressive that Dallimore compared him to former UNLV star Matt Williams. ``He's a natural hitter,'' Kleiner said.

Bubble Bruins: By losing its final six Pacific-10 Conference Southern Division games, UCLA (32-24, 16-14) has put itself in jeopardy of not making the NCAA playoffs. The Bruins finished in third place because their pitching staff faltered badly over the past month.

However, history is on UCLA's side. At least three teams from the Pac-10 have made the NCAA playoffs 12 straight years. It would help if UCLA did well in its final three nonconference games against Nevada this weekend.

Red-hot Cardinal: If you're looking for an NCAA title pick, don't bet against Stanford. Armed with perhaps the best three-man pitching rotation in the nation, the Cardinal (39-17) has won a school-record 16 consecutive games, including nine in a row in the Pac-10.

Name a team that would like to face Stanford's three-man pitching rotation of Kyle Peterson (9-5, 3.69 ERA), Jeff Austin (6-3, 3.63) and Chad Hutchinson (7-1, 3.30)?

Add to that catcher A.J. Hinch, who is finally playing like an All-American. He has raised his average to .397 with 11 home runs and 55 RBI.

More baseball: USC plays host to Washington tonight at 7 o'clock in the first game of a possible three-game series to decide the Pac-10 championship. Trojans catcher Chad Moeller, who injured his knee against UCLA, is expected back for the series.

Record breaker: Cal State Northridge shortstop Adam Kennedy has 107 hits, tops in the nation. The 107 hits broke the school record set in 1990 by Craig Clayton.

Cal Lutheran in action: Cal Lutheran (27-10-1) begins play in the NCAA Division III West Regionals today, hosting Claremont Mudd Scripps (27-13) at 2:30 p.m. at Moorpark College. It's the best-of-five games series.

MEMO: Deputy Sports Editor Eric Sondheimer's column runs during the college baseball season.