THE MASTER'S COLLEGE BASEBALL: SAFE AT HOME BERRY HAPPY AGAIN NOW THAT HE'S HURLING FOR THE MASTER'S.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Matt Berry once dreamed of being an engineer. Now he wants to teach mathematics or science. One of the best summers of his life was sharing the gospel of God to other collegians.

Baseball? It's important to Berry. He's good enough that the New York Yankees drafted him as a high school pitcher four years ago.

But throughout a diverse college experience, Berry never let baseball overtake himself.

``A lot of people put baseball as their top priority,'' Berry said. ``But you could die at any second, so it's not the most important thing.''

That's why Berry didn't sign with the Yankees out of San Diego's Christian High in 1997. It's why he spent two years studying, serving God and playing baseball at The Master's College, knowing he'd eventually have to transfer to a school with a civil-engineering program.

And it's why he went back to The Master's for his senior season rather than play a final year of major-college baseball at Texas A&M.

From a baseball standpoint, leaving Texas A&M was a difficult decision for Berry, projected as one of the Aggies' top pitchers for 2001. Last season, he performed admirably when given opportunities. He held powerful Rice scoreless in a two-inning relief stint.

One of his two starts was against Big 12 Conference rival Oklahoma. He took the loss but was victimized by three unearned runs in a four-strikeout performance over 4 1/3 innings.

In all, he made 13 appearances but threw just 25 1/3 innings. A spot in Texas A&M's rotation beckoned if Berry stayed in College Station.

``I think I would have (gotten more chances),'' Berry said, ``if I would have come out as focused and driven as I have so far this season (at The Master's).''

The Master's doesn't have A&M's national baseball reputation nor the rabid fan base that supported Berry in his one-year stint with the Aggies. But the school's small student body and its Christian values are comforting to Berry.

He thrived on the diamond for the Mustangs those two years, winning 14 games and striking out 146 batters.

``We knew it was a two-year deal because we didn't have his major,'' The Master's coach Monte Brooks said.

``He wanted to go into engineering. However, he loved the school and he wanted to deepen his faith in Christ.''

When it came time to transfer, Berry chose Texas A&M, one of the nation's top engineering schools that happened to have a quality baseball program. Berry related to Aggies coach Mark Johnson, also a Christian, who made players run if they cursed loudly at games or practices.

``Coach Johnson gave us testimony on Tuesdays at something we called Breakaway. He let us use the baseball facility for a praise-and-worship night,'' Berry said. ``He came out and gave us testimony.... (The stadium) was filled with college students. It was outstanding.''

It is a school rich in tradition and Berry enjoyed his time at Texas A&M, which attracted crowds in excess of 5,000 for big games. But despite playing for Johnson and the weekly testimony sessions, Berry missed the ``Christian aspect'' he received at The Master's.

Last summer, Berry got the itch to return to that lifestyle when he played for an Athletes in Action team in the Kansas-based Jayhawk League.

``I had a great time sharing the gospel with people,'' Berry said. ``You play against other D-I players, but then we get together afterwards and tell them about who we are and who Christ is in our lives and share testimonies.... There's nothing better.''

He returned to College Station last August for the fall semester. But academics also started to cloud Berry's aspirations. Because he hadn't completed 50 percent of his major's requirements by his senior year, the school informed Berry he no longer could pursue his engineering degree or be eligible to play baseball.

Berry changed his major to psychology and was cleared to play. But he changed his attitude about Texas A&M being the right place.

``Basically, I was struggling in a lot of different ways out there,'' Berry said. ``I wanted my last go-round at college and college baseball to be with a Christian team.''

Coming back to The Master's couldn't have worked out any better. Berry is at peace with himself on campus and is the Mustangs' stopper. He's 5-1 with two saves, a 1.49 earned-run average, 52 strikeouts and just 40 hits allowed in 51 2/3 innings.

``I think it's a huge asset, a notch under Matt's belt, competing at the highest level of collegiate sports,'' Brooks said of Berry's season at Texas A&M.

The 6-foot-4 Berry throws a fastball regularly clocked in the low- to mid-90s. His changeup and curve usually are effective.

``Rarely does he ever struggle. A lot of days he's got all three pitches,'' Mustangs catcher Larry Harrison said.

Berry doesn't let the scouting report or the upcoming draft possibilities pump his ego. Pro baseball is simply one of many directions in which he can travel.

``I'm just encouraged he had an opportunity to deepen his faith,'' Brooks said.

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Pitcher Matt Berry transferred back to The Master's College this season after a year at Division I Texas A&M.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News