COC BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE HOME.

Byline: Scott Magoloff Daily News Staff Writer

There was a definite College of the Canyons feel to Thursday's practice for the Bernie Milligan Daily News All-Star Game's East team. And this has nothing to do with the fact that it was held at COC.

Many of the players on the team, including at least two of the six Santa Clarita athletes involved, will attend COC next year with hopes of helping the Cougars pick up the pieces after suffering through this year's down season.

Canyon High's Garrett Behnke and Hart's Nolan LeMar have said they will be playing baseball at COC while the Indians' Tim Hutting and the Cowboys' Mike Suarez are considering the idea.

Behnke admitted that his grades prevented him from earning an opportunity to play at Pepperdine, which is where he hopes to go after gaining experience at COC.

His actions so far with the Bernie Milligan team have shown that Behnke is doing the right things to achieve his goal.

``This gives me experience on the field,'' he said. ``I got here a little early (Thursday) and Monday. I like it here. It's a nice field.''

Suarez, Behnke's teammate with the Cowboys, is considering Glendale College in addition to COC. Like Behnke, Suarez is looking at his community college career as a chance to make improvements.

``It'll allow me to get more time in school and playing,'' Suarez said. ``Hopefully, that'll help me decide what I want to do besides baseball.''

Hart's Tim Hutting is also considering COC in addition to Cal State Northridge.

``It's the same game,'' Hutting said of the difference between a junior college and Division I school. ``There's maybe a little difference in competition. Wherever I go I'll just play my hardest.''

Looking ahead: It had to be a nice change of pace for the three Hart players involved to go from the high-emotion Southern Section Division II championship last Saturday to the laid back all-star festivities.

Justin Wiley would have no part of the low-key workouts leading up to today's game. This is not to say he did not participate, just that he would not have a relaxed practice.

``Even if it's not for (the section title), you've got to play like you're trying for something big,'' Wiley said. ``I always give 110 percent. That's something (retired Hart coach) Bud Murray's taught us.''

Wiley will bring this attitude with him when he reports to Chico State, which won the Division II College World Series last week.

``I can't wait. I got an E-mail from (Chico St. coach Lyndsey Meggs) the other day congratulating my on our win,'' Wiley said. ``And he said he's looking forward to seeing me in the fall.''

Something Wiley will quickly have to overcome is the age difference between he and most of the other players there. He said most recruits come from junior colleges and that he will likely be the only true freshman on the team.

Free-fall: Saugus began its Foothill League season auspiciously, jumping out to a 3-1 start. The Centurions finished the year in second-to-last place with a 5-9-1 league record.

At least for senior pitcher Justin Babin, who is going to San Diego Mesa junior college, there is a nice all-star game to end his prep career on a fun note.

``It was pretty disappointing,'' Babin said of the Centurions' season. ``We started off the year pretty good, but the second half just killed us.

``People didn't show up on a consistent basis. They just went through the motions instead of playing with intensity.''