Notes on a Scorecard - May 22, 1991

USC has won 11 NCAA baseball championships, more than twice as many as any other school. . . .

From the halls of Troy have emerged hitters Mark McGwire, Fred Lynn, Dave Kingman, Ron Fairly, Don Buford, Rich Dauer, Steve Kemp, Roy Smalley, Johnny Werhas, Len Gabrielson and Tom Satriano and pitchers Tom Seaver, Steve Busby, Randy Johnson, Bill Lee, Jim Barr and Pete Redfern. . . .

Rod Dedeaux’s teams won five consecutive national titles from 1970-1974. . . .

But nobody in Omaha, Neb., has been shouting, “Break up the Trojans!” lately. In fact, the Yankees of amateur baseball haven’t advanced to the College World Series since 1978, or three years before the most recent appearance of the Yankees of professional baseball in the World Series. . . .

The scary news for the rest of the NCAA, though, is that the Trojans are back in the business of holding a regional playoff for the first time in 13 years. . . .

Coached by Mike Gillespie, left fielder for the 1961 national champions, USC will take a 44-15-1 record and the No. 3 ranking in the nation onto Dedeaux Field for the double-elimination tournament that runs Friday through Monday. . . .

Opening-day matchups: Hawaii-Minnesota, 11 a.m.; USC-Middle Tennessee State, 3:15 p.m.; Pepperdine-

Creighton, 7:30 p.m. . . .

Leading the USC attack is right fielder Mark Smith, who could be among the first three players drafted in June and is a candidate for college player-of-the-year honors. . . .

A matchup between USC and Minnesota would bring back memories of 1960, when the Trojans beat the Gophers, 2-1, in 10 innings for the College World Series title; and 1973, when the Trojans rallied from a 7-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning and eliminated Minnesota in the semifinals, 8-7. . . .

The starting pitcher for Minnesota in that 1973 game was a prospect who could also swing the bat pretty well, Dave Winfield. . . .

Barbara Hedges is Washington’s gain and USC’s loss. The Huskies’ new athletic director is well-organized, an excellent communicator and has the knack of putting the right people in the right positions. . . .

Kevin Gross should have been upset at himself for allowing the anemic Houston Astros to score three runs in the first inning Monday instead of berating Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda for removing him for a pinch-hitter in the fifth. . . .

The day after Hansel won the Preakness, pitcher Greg Hansell improved his record with the Bakersfield Dodgers to 6-1. . . .

What were the chances that Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela would pitch in California League games in 1991? . . .

Cincinnati’s chances to repeat in the National League West could depend upon Barry Larkin’s arm. . . .

The best little-known player in the American League is Seattle’s Edgar Martinez, who has a .469 on-base percentage. . . .

Is it too early to consider Dave Henderson a candidate to win the triple crown? . . .

Among the many San Francisco Giants who are as cold as the Candlestick Park weather is Mike LaCoss, who has given up 22 runs in his past 11 2/3 innings. . . .

The debate in hockey is whether it is good or bad for the sport that a team that finished the regular season with a losing record, the Minnesota North Stars, is playing for the Stanley Cup championship. I say it’s good. The world loves underdogs. . . .

Will Pagel and cream cheese be added to the Sunday brunch menu for Ram games at Anaheim Stadium? . . .

On balance, Southern California judges are among the best in boxing. But none of them worked the Greg Richardson-Victor Rabanales bantamweight title fight at the Forum Monday night. The World Boxing Council was allowed to pick its own officials. Richardson was awarded a gift decision. Maybe nobody should have been surprised. . . .

Officials’ cards should be posted on a scoreboard after every round. . . .

For once, I haven’t heard any complaints about the voting for the NBA’s most valuable player award, which went to Michael Jordan. . . .

The scrambling, intense Chicago Bulls play defense the way their coach, Phil Jackson, did for the New York Knicks. . . .

Dallas guard Derek Harper reportedly is No. 1 on the Clippers’ shopping list and Atlanta guard Doc Rivers No. 2. . . .

Speculation that has former North Carolina star James Worthy being sent to Charlotte for the No. 1 pick in the draft doesn’t make sense because the Hornets sell out their 23,000-seat building every night and don’t need a drawing card. . . .

I’ve had the privilege of being a teammate of Mel Durslag for the past 26 years at the old Herald Examiner and The Times. His column today caps a distinguished career in sports journalism. His considerable wit and wisdom will be missed.