COLLEGE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: ALREADY A STAR FOR THE BRUINS FORMER VALENCIA PITCHER IMPRESSIVE IN DEBUT GAMES.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

The UCLA baseball team could have a hard time keeping its secret.

The Bruins have a virtual unknown in freshman pitcher Kyle Wilson of Valencia High, but Wilson won't stay that way long if he continues to perform like he did in his college debut last week.

Wilson helped UCLA earn its first victory of the season by striking out three, walking none and allowing one earned run in four innings of relief to earn the save in the Feb. 1 game against Gonzaga.

``I was nervous a little bit and excited all at the same time,'' Wilson said. ``There was a lot of adrenaline going through.''

Wilson was more surprised about being called into the game than he was about his success.

``I was a little bit, but you've got to believe in yourself,'' Wilson said. ``I was really excited about the result, that's for sure.''

One of the reasons UCLA coach Gary Adams said he felt comfortable using Wilson in a tight game was because of Wilson's performance a week earlier in the alumni game. Wilson struck out the side, including Angels third baseman Troy Glaus, in the only inning he pitched.

But the Bruins are one of the few teams to have known about Wilson's talent for a while. He went 7-3 with a 2.00 ERA last year, but was not as well know as some of the region's other top pitcher because an arm injury caused him to miss his junior season.

``Coach (Gary) Adcock and I went to see him pitch and we thought enough of his arm action and his ability to offer him a scholarship,'' Adams said. ``I know he wasn't one of the premier prospects or much talked about going into the season. He was kind of a late bloomer. He had been injured, so he's kind of a well-kept secret.''

--Starting over: Billy Susdorf had to sit on the bench through three and a half games before he got his first college at-bat. Not being the star of the team is taking some getting used to for the former Hart outfielder, who is a reserve for UCLA after being the Southern Section Division II Player of the Year last year.

``It was different,'' Susdorf said of watching from the sidelines. ``I haven't done that for like eight or nine years. Now I'm a little fish in the big pond. I have to work my way up. I'll get my shot.''

When he did get his shot, Susdorf doubled to right in the fifth inning of Sunday's victory over Gonzaga. He was then removed for a pinch runner.

``It's a big change,'' Susdorf said. ``No longer do you face the Burbanks of the world where you can go 6 for 6 and increase your average. Now almost every single game there's a guy throwing almost 90 with a good hook and a good slider. Every at-bat you've got to concentrate, where in high school you could kick back an at-bat and still get a hit. So, yeah, the competition's a lot better.''

--Just like old times: Former Hart standout Eric Posthumus didn't have any trouble adjusting to a higher level of play. The freshman right-hander struck out seven and allowed one earned run in six innings to earn the win in his first collegiate start Monday against BYU.

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Former Hart standouts Bill Susdorf (45) and Eric Posthumus expect to play key roles for UCLA this season. Susdorf, a reserve, doubled in his first at-bat against Gonzaga and Posthumus struck out seven and allowed one earned run to win his first collegiate start against BYU.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News