PROSPECT PERSPECTIVE; INJURED ROGERS WANTS BACK INTO BASEBALL.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

Victories and honors seemed like a given for Matt Rogers. The only thing left to imagine was how much more he could do in 1999.

``This year was supposed to be the year.'' Rogers said.

Instead, the Thousand Oaks High senior is spending his final high school baseball season on the sidelines, wondering if his arm can return to its old form. The scouts and scholarship offers are gone. One of the few things helping soothe Rogers' emotional and physical pain after shoulder surgery is his new role as pitching coach for the Lancers freshman team. Still, watching his former teammates contend for the Marmonte League title is as painful as any surgery.

``It's horrible,'' Rogers said. ``I do my best to root them on, but it's really difficult being there and not being able to play.''

Just last summer, Rogers didn't want to play. He gave up the opportunity to participate in the prestigious Area Code games, and to play with other teams, when he decided he was burned out on the sport on which he'd focused so intently. A few months without the game made him realize he couldn't stay away. Then he didn't have a choice.

``It was horrible. Now I had the desire and I wanted to be out there more than before and I couldn't,'' Rogers said.

He tries not to think about the fact he might be playing if the need for surgery had been discovered sooner. Instead, he's scheduled to begin throwing days after the high school season ends.

Rogers believes his arm problems date back to a bicycle accident in the seventh grade. He said his shoulder never felt the same again while the pain varied in intensity over the years. Rogers saw a variety of doctors but didn't find out what was wrong until this past winter, when an MRI revealed a torn rotator cuff.

``It was pretty devastating, especially since it's my senior year,'' Rogers said.

The right-hander went 7-2 with a 2.06 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 51 innings last season despite arm problems flaring up during the regular season.

He wanted to remain a part of the program this year but found sitting on the sidelines harder than he expected. Lancers coach Bill Sizemore came up with an idea to solve two problems at once. He offered Rogers the pitching-coach position, providing him an opportunity to stay involved as well as filling an open spot on the coaching staff.

``I kind of look at things as everything happens for a reason,'' Sizemore said. ``Here's a kid that a year ago was contemplating not playing anymore. Now it's not a choice of, `Do you want to play?' He can't play. It makes you appreciate the game.

``It's worked out well. He works well with the them and gets to contribute to the team. The nice thing about it is he's teaching and they're listening to him.''

Rogers, 18, never considered himself the coaching type.

``No way,'' he said. ``I'm one of those impatient guys where I get frustrated when people can't do things I do.''

A disappointing start by the freshmen is helping change Rogers' attitude. He finds joy in seeing his players master the fundamentals and knowing that he is preparing them for future success. It's also enabled him to see the game in a new way.

``It's a different aspect,'' Rogers said. ``Even though I'm teaching them, you learn new things yourself. You see someone else do things and you notice things you don't see when you're doing it yourself. It's a good thing.''

Rogers plans to get his pitching career back on track by playing for either Moorpark or Pierce College next year.

``He shouldn't have any problem coming back,'' Sizemore said. ``He's definitely a Division I pitcher.

``It'll be nice to see him throw when he knows what's wrong. I think this is going to make him a better person and a better player.''

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PHOTO After surgery ended his high school career, ace Matt Rogers, right, stays near the game as a T.O. frosh pitching coach until he can throw again.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News