CHATTER: USC WEATHERING LOST ARMS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

USC's baseball team has enough pitching depth to make a serious run at the College World Series. But the Trojans lost two durable left-handers, sophomore Matt Chico and senior Cory Campos, to academic ineligibility.

Chico, a regarded prospect who turned down the Boston Red Sox's offer as a second-round pick to attend USC, had moments of brilliance in 2002 but suffered from control problems. He went 6-4 with a 5.45 ERA and plans to transfer to a junior college.

The scrappy Campos emerged as one of USC's most dependable pitchers, especially in the final weeks of the Trojans' Pacific-10 Conference championship push and NCAA Regional victory. He will redshirt and hopes to return next year.

But USC has plenty of arms, topped by the return of senior Anthony Reyes, who would have been a first-round pick if not for an elbow injury last season.

Also back are Fraser Dizard and Brian Bannister, out for all or most of 2002 with arm injuries.

``This is a team that we have high expectations for, and it is a team that is capable of being among the nation's elite,'' said coach Mike Gillespie, whose Trojans are ranked third by Collegiate Baseball and sixth by Baseball America in their respective preseason polls.

``It would not be a surprise to see this team in Omaha (Neb.), but talk is cheap. We would be disappointed if this didn't turn out to be a good team.'' ...

Junior Adrian Aye-Darko, a 6-foot-1 guard on the Chaminade of West Hills boys' basketball team and an all-Mission League first teamer and second-team all-Southern Section Division IV-AA selection, most likely is out for the season.

Aye-Darko received the results Thursday from an MRI on his ankle and will be examined in three weeks, when he could be cleared to compete in the playoffs. ...

College of the Canyons running back J.J. Arrington has signed to play next season at Oregon, according to Cougars coach Chuck Lyon, who added that defensive lineman Lex Maka has committed to San Diego State. ...

Mike Verrillo, a 6-foot point guard for Westlake, has been a bright spot on one of the region's surprise teams and has helped the Warriors break out to three consecutive victories in Marmonte League play.

As his past two performances have shown, he's playing some of his best ball of the season. Verrillo scored 24 points, had 10 assists and five steals in a 73-64 victory last Friday over Agoura and had 26 points, eight assists and three steals in a 75-60 victory Wednesday over Thousand Oaks.

He's averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals a game this season. Westlake, despite missing its leading scorer P.J. Issacson, who has been out with a broken hand most of the year, is 14-5, 3-0.

Staff writers Chris Cocoles and Ross Siler contributed to this report.