THE MASTER'S COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME VERSATILE DERSOM TURNS IN SOLID EFFORT FOR MASTER'S.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

NEWHALL- Tyler Dersom continues to don a blue and gold jersey in his college baseball day job. Whether he does so at the NCAA Division I or the NAIA isn't the issue. Playing with a purpose is.

``If you're a pro, a college player, if you're playing Pony League, you should just play the game and enjoy it and have fun,'' said Dersom, who transferred from UCLA to The Master's College for his senior season. ``I think when people are playing at a high level, it's more serious, but it's no different than the Little League fields. I think you have to take that perspective for the game.''

Make no mistake, baseball is not the lone purpose in Dersom's life as a Mustang. He'll return to UCLA to finish off a psychology degree in the summer. But he's taking five Bible-related courses this semester, giving him a spiritual high he probably could never have reached in trendy Westwood.

Dersom, a Chaminade High of West Hills graduate, was a seldom-used pitcher for the Bruins from 1998-00. He sat out the 2001 season and was told there wouldn't be a spot on the staff at the conclusion of fall practice.

``At the time, it was tough. My identity was a baseball player then. I think that's what opened my eyes to a new kind of life,'' said Dersom, who pitches but mostly starts (and excels) as the Mustangs' starting third baseman since transferring at the semester break.

``There's more to life than baseball.''

Dersom's course load this semester: Old Testament, New Testament, Corinthians, life of Christ and theology.

``I'm learning more about God and just how awesome Christianity is for the first time,'' said Dersom, who grew up in a Catholic household in West Hills, where he attends Sunday mass at St. Bernadine's with his family.

Though he's new to the program, Dersom's previous experiences at UCLA made him an immediate role model for a young Mustangs team.

``He's a great kid, with great work ethic and he brings a lot to our team,'' assistant coach Kurt Fillmore said. ``Not only with his athleticism, but spiritually.''

Another awakening for Dersom is swinging the bat, something he hadn't done since playing shortstop at Chaminade. A 2-for-5, five-RBI night in Wednesday's 11-10 loss at Azusa Pacific raised his average to .365 with three homers and 27 RBI.

He's been an effective pitcher, despite taking the loss at Azusa Pacific Wednesday. In 11 appearances, the right-hander is 1-1 with two saves.

Maybe the most pleasant surprise is Dersom's baserunning. He's among the Golden State Athletic Conference leaders with 17 steals in 18 attempts, despite admitting, ``I don't have the best speed on this team.''

``I love hitting,'' he said, smiling. ``When I start taking it too serious is when I start not playing as well. When I just play and have fun with it and realize 'Hey, I get to hit again. I haven't hit for five years', I'm OK.''

As for baseball, Dersom has pitched in NCAA Regional games with the Bruins before thousands of rowdy fans rooting against him.

The Master's remains in contention for a top-four spot in the Golden State Athletic Conference and the automatic postseason conference tournament bid. It's not quite Oklahoma State or Wichita State, with a possible College World Series berth on the line.

At UCLA, Dersom would have found playing against a Biola or an Azusa Pacific as a dramatic change from pitching in the Pacific-10 Conference.

``I think I've grown now,'' he said. ``It's the same game. I try to have fun with it.''

--Crushing loss: The baseball team appeared to carry the momentum from last Saturday's doubleheader sweep of defending GSAC-champion Biola into the Azusa game on Wednesday.

Behind big offensive performances by Dersom, freshman shortstop Craig Troxell (four hits), second baseman Tyler Hergenrader (4 for 5, two runs scored) and first baseman Kevin James (3 for 5, RBI), The Master's led the No. 15 Cougars 10-0 in the bottom of the fifth.

But Azusa chipped away, pulling within 10-7 in the ninth and scoring four runs in the ninth. The Mustangs (18-17 overall) dropped to 9-10 in the GSAC. A win would have tied Vanguard for fourth.

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Third baseman Tyler Dersom, a transfer from UCLA, has come in and provided The Master's College with solid play.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer