HEART OF THE LIONS LMU JUNIORS READY TO MAKE THEIR PLAY.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

They are their own clique, yet dedicated to the greater good of the team. They're bonded through common past experiences, yet open enough to welcome outsiders into the fold.

Call them the Loyola Marymount Five, the Valley Guys or the Golden Razzies. Above all, call them contributors to the success of the Lions baseball team.

Thanks in part to Robert Hirsh, Brian Felten, Mike Schultz, Chris Gray and Tommy Perez, Loyola Marymount is 37-17 and ranked 16th in one national poll and 20th in another. The Lions play at home against Pepperdine in a best-of-three series starting today for the West Coast Conference title and automatic NCAA tournament berth.

Some of their contributions are seen on the field. Hirsh, from Crespi of Encino, is the starting right fielder. Schultz, from Cleveland of Reseda, is the No. 2 starter. Felten, also from Crespi, and Gray, from Chaminade of West Hills, are relievers; Perez, from Burroughs of Burbank, plays infield but spent much of the season injured. He returned three weeks ago and batted .375 in last weekend's games against Gonzaga.

Their real value is off the field, where they yuk it up - usually at someone else's expense - and keep things loose.

``Without it, you'd get too bored,'' Schultz said. ``Baseball is repetitive.''

Their favorite targets are themselves. Growing up close enough to face off numerous times in Little League or high school ball gives them ample ammunition.

Gray likes to tease Felten and Hirsh that Crespi never beat Chaminade while the three were in high school. He likes to remind Perez that Burroughs never beat Chaminade, either. Perez counters with one game in which Gray blew a save opportunity. Then Perez reminds Hirsh that Burroughs beat Crespi 15-1 once (Hirsh denies this). They all call Schultz ``fungo'' because he's skinny.

If others wish to join in, the quintet welcomes them. Loyola High graduate Scott Walter is fond of mentioning his team beat Crespi and Chaminade. Gray counters with Walter being so hairy ``He's got a sweater on when he doesn't have a shirt on.''

``This year, the team gets along really well,'' Lions coach Frank Cruz said. ``Last year, we struggled in terms of team continuity internally.''

Regardless, all but Perez are of a group of 13 now-juniors who arrived two years ago with the dream of rebuilding the program. The year before, Cruz had taken over a program that had won just three conference titles since 1968 and had no winning seasons since '91.

As freshmen, the group won the WCC and shocked host Stanford at an NCAA regional. Last year, they repeated as WCC champions.

`'It's been a two-year joy ride,'' Felten said.

Part of the joy is watching their teammates succeed. Ask them their favorite moment from this season and they all point to Feb. 15 against then second-ranked UCLA - a ninth-inning comeback victory in which the Lions made up a two-run deficit with two outs to win 5-4.

It might make sense for Felten to choose that moment. He was the winning pitcher. But Schultz, Gray and Perez weren't in the game, and Hirsh was on the bench, having singled early in the ninth inning.

``It showed us no team's better than us. We're equal with everybody,'' Schultz said. ``It kind of cleared any doubt we had. We're a little school. We got dismissed, and we surprised.''

With that, the Valley Guys dog-piled onto the field, happy in the accomplishments of their own and their team.