CATCHER FINDS FAME AFTER BEING A NO-NAME.

Byline: Heather Gripp College Baseball 

The honors have accumulated quickly in less than two full seasons as a college baseball player, but to Nevada sophomore Brett Hayes, the intentional walks are one of the most satisfying indications of the progress he has made since his days at Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks.

``Before this year, I don't think I'd ever been intentionally walked,'' Hayes said. ``It happened twice against Pacific.''

Opponents have good reason to be reluctant to pitch to Hayes. The catcher is batting .329 with six home runs and 30 RBI after going 7 for 14 with seven RBI and 10 runs scored in a recent three-game sweep of Louisiana Tech. He earned freshman All-America and Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors last season, when he batted .365 with eight home runs and 63 RBI.

WAC coaches voted him this year's preseason conference Player of the Year.

``The way I look at it, I had a great year last year when no one really knew who I was,'' Hayes said. ``I could take them by surprise somewhat. The thing I like is now everyone knows who I am - they know what I can do, they know how to pitch me - and I'm still doing well.''

Even defending national champion Rice and its staff of dominant returning pitchers couldn't keep Hayes off base. He had a hit in each game when the conference rivals met in a three-game series earlier this month.

Hayes earned his second career WAC Player of the Week award when he went 6 for 9 with six RBI in three games at the Pepperdine Battle of the Beach tournament in late February.

Fewer pitches to hit and a lot more off-speed pitches are the biggest difference from a year ago, but Hayes likes the challenge.

He also likes the challenge of working with his pitchers to prevent opposing hitters from being as successful as he is. After playing several positions in high school and signing with Nevada as an outfielder, Hayes settled in nicely as the Wolfpack's starting catcher. He is on the watch list for the Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation's top college catcher.

Although others may have been caught off guard by the player who admits he ``didn't really get many accolades or a lot of notoriety back in high school,'' Hayes was not surprised. He was a two-sport athlete in high school, standing out as a receiver on the football team, and believed he could blossom as a baseball player when focusing on his favorite sport full time in college.

``We all set our goals and I set high goals,'' Hayes said. ``So I don't really see it as exceeding expectations. ... I've set my goals high again this year and they're not just for myself, I want the team to win and do as well as we can.''

--Hot hitter: Royal of Simi Valley graduate Casey O'Quinn saw his 20- game hitting streak for Troy State end this week. The streak is the Alabama school's record at the Division I level.

O'Quinn, a senior second baseman, entered the week batting a team-high .371 with five home runs and 24 RBI through 30 games.

--Short hops: Simi Valley product Jered Weaver is one victory from earning a piece of the Long Beach State career wins record held by Andy Croghan (1989-91). The junior right-hander, who is 10-0 and 32-8 in his career, could tie the record today at home against UC Irvine. ...

Loyola Marymount senior shortstop Billy Lockin, a Thousand Oaks graduate, stole his 50th career base in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Portland. He moved into a tie for sixth on the Lions' career list. ...

Sunday's game between Pepperdine and San Diego will be televised on College Sports TV, making it the first televised West Coast Conference game. The Waves and two-time defending conference champion Toreros have met in the WCC Championship Series the past two years and could do so again as Pepperdine is in first in the Coast Division at 11-1, and San Diego is in second in the West Division after winning its past five conference games.

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com