DON'T JINX GEMOLL'S POWER SURGE TROJAN'S THIRD BASEMAN CAN'T EXPLAIN IT - AND DOESN'T WANT TO.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

USC third baseman Justin Gemoll doesn't know how to explain it. There's a part of him that doesn't want to, because when you talk about something, you might jinx it.

So he wants to knock on wood before pondering his senior season. It has come out of nowhere.

In his first three college seasons, Gemoll hit a combined 18 home runs. This year, Gemoll has hit 18 homers, and if he hits one this weekend when USC plays in the NCAA Regionals at Cal State Fullerton, he will have as many as Mark McGwire hit his junior year as a Trojan.

But power is only one part of Gemoll's story. Besides leading the team in home runs, Gemoll also leads USC in batting average (.380) and RBI (61).

``We've had our share of guys go from so-so to good, but I don't know if I've ever seen a player make this kind of jump,'' USC baseball coach Mike Gillespie said. ``It's been a spectacular year. He's been no question, the single most important position player we've had. He's had an All-American year.''

This has been such an unexpected season for Gemoll that few scouts even knew who he was before the season. Now Gillespie said Gemoll's performance has guaranteed he will be picked in the amateur draft, which begins June 5.

Gemoll hit just four home runs last year for the Trojans, in what was admittedly his toughest college season. He played every infield position and left field because injuries forced him to fill in for other players.

He also drew the ire of Gillespie, who became unhappy with his defense.

``In hindsight, playing all those positions took a toll,'' Gillespie said. ``He was probably playing with one eye on the dugout. He had to get used to me being a semi-lunatic.''

If that wasn't enough, Gemoll was adjusting to playing for the Trojans after spending his first two years at UC Santa Barbara. Following his sophomore season, Gemoll decided to transfer because, ``the baseball wasn't as intense as I wanted it to be.''

Although Gemoll had a solid season at USC, hitting .300, he never really felt comfortable as a first-year player in the program.

USC pitcher Rik Currier could tell his roommate was pressing last season and saw how it bothered him.

``Maybe that one extra bit of pushing yourself too hard makes you fail,'' said Currier, who similarly struggled but has turned things around by improving his record from 5-7 to 12-3.

``Justin's really focused this year,'' Currier said. ``Some guys go out and party, but we don't do that kind of stuff. He's been a leader. You can always rely on him to bring everyone together on the field.''

Gemoll just hopes he stays hot as USC starts regional action today, but after thinking about how marvelous his senior year has been, he still isn't sure he wants to explain where his newfound power comes from.

``As soon as you do, the streak ends,'' Gemoll said.

NCAA REGIONALS

Today

At Fullerton

USC (38-18) vs. Virginia Tech (34-23-2), 3 p.m.

Loyola Marymount (39-17) at CS Fullerton (36-19), 7 p.m.

at Oklahoma City

UCLA (35-24) vs. Delaware (37-18), 1 p.m.

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo: (color) Justin Gemoll has made more noise with his bat than with his glove.

Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News

Box: NCAA regionals (see text)