NOT EVEN DODGERS DO IT FOR LEWIS SAN FERNANDO STAR DRAFTED BUT SET ON COLLEGE.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Before the draft, San Fernando High senior D.J. Lewis informed big-league organizations he was committed to play college baseball if not selected in the first five rounds.

Lewis, a hard-hitting catcher/outfielder headed to Arizona, lasted until the 40th round Wednesday. But while reinforcing his agenda, he added it was not quite as easy after being drafted by his beloved Dodgers.

``It is (intriguing),'' Lewis said after his Tigers lost 1-0 to Banning of Wilmington in Wednesday's City Section quarterfinals. ``We told everybody `If you draft me in the first four rounds, (I'll sign).' If not, then I'm headed to Arizona.''

--Grand Canyon: The first local high school player selected Wednesday continued an ongoing trend. Canyon pitcher Joe Gault went to the Minnesota Twins in the 22nd round.

Gault, a hard-throwing right-hander, is the third consecutive Canyon ace to be drafted. Two years ago, Tampa Bay picked Chris Seddon in the fifth round. He signed, and early in the season was leading the California League in ERA with Single-A Bakersfield. Jake Coash went in the 18th round with Detroit last year but opted to go to College of the Canyons. He sat out the season with an arm injury. Coash was selected again Wednesday (by Arizona in the 44th round).

--Fourth time's a charm? Four drafts ago, Palmdale High pitcher Matt Harrington was a ``Baseball America'' cover boy and a top-10 pick. On Wednesday, Harrington slipped to the 24th round, where Cincinnati selected him between a University of Pittsburgh pitcher named Nicholas Evangelista and a left-handed pitcher from Neuqua Valley (Ill.) High.

Harrington is showing promise in independent ball. In 19 2/3 inning with the Fort Worth (Texas) Cats of the Central League, he has 18 strikeouts and just six walks.

Matt's younger brother Troy, also a right-hander, was a 44th-round pick of Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

--Giant opportunity: Long Beach State senior Tim Hutting, a Hart High of Newhall product, went somewhat surprisingly high in the draft when the San Francisco Giants took him in the eighth round Tuesday.

Hutting, a scrappy player who can play both middle-infield spots, was even picked by the right team.

``The Giants are my team. I've always been a fan of them,'' said Hutting, whose 49ers play at Stanford in the NCAA Super Regionals this weekend. ``I'm so high on life right now, I don't think I'm going to stop smiling for a week.''

--Draft dodger: One player who is most relieved about embarking on a professional career is Pepperdine senior shortstop Kevin Estrada. He waited until the 11th hour before signing with St. Louis on Monday as the Cardinals' 42nd-round pick from 2002.

After hitting .327, stealing 36 bases and earning West Coast Conference Co-Player of the Year honors, Estrada might have been picked higher had he put his name back in the draft pool. But he wasn't looking forward to waiting for another call.

``I've seen a lot of weird stuff happen with me. I came out of Florida doing very well,'' said Estrada, who as a 2001 junior was an All-Southeastern Conference performer. ``And I don't get drafted. And (in 2002 as a medical redshirt) I don't play (at Pepperdine) and get drafted. Hopefully, I'll keeping playing a little baseball for a while.''

Chris Cocoles, [phone]

chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com

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DAY 2: LOCAL DRAFT SELECTIONS