Pals Keep a Promise--You Can’t Have One Without the Other : Baseball: Two new standouts for Toros have been buddies since childhood. And their tongue-in-cheek pact has worked out so far.

Greg Bergeron and Ken Gajewski are not related, but they share a strong bond similar to that of twins. As childhood friends the former Cerritos College baseball players joked that if either was offered a collegiate baseball scholarship, he would go only if the other was included.

The agreement was negotiable, but it was one that Cal State Dominguez Hills Coach George Wing could not turn down. Bergeron, who starts at third base, and Gajewski, a talented pitcher, are considered to be two of the Toros’ top newcomers.

The Toros (16-13-1), who open a three-game series with Cal State Los Angeles at home at 3 p.m. today, are ranked No. 10 in the latest NCAA Division II national poll and are in third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn., only 2 1/2 games out of first with a 7-5 record.

“Those guys have been very productive,” Wing said. “They’re both doing as much as we had hoped and expected, and more. Both have shown they can produce big numbers at this level. They both have good leadership qualities and a strong background in baseball.”

Bergeron, 21, a better-than-average defensive player, is one of the Toros’ top hitters with a .317 average. Although he batted cleanup briefly, Bergeron is most productive batting second. He leads the team with 38 hits, is second in runs scored (20) and third in runs batted in (15).

“He’s doing all things, offensively and defensively, we would like him to do,” Wing said. “He’s the kind of player the opposition hates because he makes every play. He’ll find a way to beat you.”

Wing says the only thing the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Bergeron needs is more time in the weight room.

“He has to develop body strength,” Wing said. “He plays so hard and puts his body through so much that he needs to improve on that.”

Gajewski, 20, improved so much from the start of the season that he earned a spot in the starting rotation. This was a difficult task, considering that the Toros have one of the best pitching staffs in university history and one of the best in the CCAA.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Gajewski has a 3-2 record and leads the pitching staff with two shutouts. Although he gave up nine runs in only four innings in a 12-0 loss at UC Riverside last Friday, he remains third in the rotation behind 1991 All-American Mark Tranberg and junior college standout Tom Ball.

“They’re two of the best pitchers around, and it’s a challenge for me to go out there and try to challenge them,” said Gajewski, who is expected to pitch the third game against Cal State Los Angeles at 1 p.m. Saturday. “I really don’t feel much pressure. The pressure is on Mark and Tom. They’re the big boys. They get all the publicity.”

Gajewski is known as a finesse pitcher who often intimidates batters with an aggressive style.

“It’s been a real shot in the arm to go into that third game with him,” Wing said. “He’s the kind of pitcher that comes right at you. He’s not afraid to go after hitters when he has two strikes. He’s also a very smart pitcher.”

Wing, in his fourth season at Dominguez Hills, recruited Bergeron and Gajewski while they coached his son’s Pony League baseball team in Los Alamitos.

“I’d pick my son up from practice and we’d talk,” Wing said. “We had a common bond right away.”

Bergeron and Gajewski played Little League baseball and youth soccer together while growing up in Los Alamitos. They played baseball at different high schools--Bergeron for his dad, Tom, at Gahr High in Cerritos and Gajewski at Los Alamitos High--but competed in the same summer leagues and practiced together during the off-season.

Bergeron was an All-San Gabriel Valley League second baseman at Gahr and a standout soccer player. Gajewski, an All-Empire League selection, led Los Alamitos to the Southern Section playoffs three consecutive seasons.

Both athletes were redshirts at Cerritos College in 1990. Bergeron sat out because of a sore arm, Gajewski because the Falcons had enough talented pitchers to keep him out of the starting rotation.

“Our redshirt year was one of the best years practice-wise for us,” Bergeron said. “We pushed each other every day. We really worked hard.”

And it paid off. In 1991 the pair earned All-South Coast Conference honors. Bergeron hit .281 with 29 RBIs, six doubles and three stolen bases. He struck out only 12 times in 135 visits to the plate.

“He was a complete hitter,” Cerritos Coach Ken Gaylord said. “He also did a good job at third. At the start we didn’t know if he had the arm to play third because he played second (base) in high school. But we were very pleased.”

Gajewski’s strong pitching also helped the Falcons win the SCC title and advance to the state playoffs. He compiled a 5-1 record, a 2.06 ERA and two saves. He struck out 20 batters in 48 innings and walked just seven.

“He was outstanding for us,” Cerritos pitching coach Dave Serrano said. “He had great command of all pitches, but I think the slider was his best. He had various roles on this team. He pitched lots of games for us.”

Bergeron and Gajewski left Cerritos College because they had fulfilled the academic requirement to transfer to a four-year college. Bergeron earned his Associate of Arts degree and Gajewski was a couple of units shy.

Both signed early at Dominguez Hills. They share an apartment close to the campus where many post-game discussions take place. On the field they help each other get through difficult times.

“If I’m having a terrible game, Kenny will come up to me and pump me up,” Bergeron said. “The same with me for him. Against (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) the fans were on me and I wasn’t doing very well. Ken said, ‘Hold your head up. Don’t let them get to you.’ It really helped.”

Gajewski says Bergeron has served as a motivator since the two were kids.

“He’s always there to help me out if I’m struggling. He’s the guy I always go to for encouragement,” Gajewski said. “We’re not afraid to get in each other’s face.”

Wing says Gajewski’s and Bergeron’s closeness is an advantage for him, as well.

“I can go to either one to get insight on the other,” he said. “It’s a neat combo. They’re very supportive of one another.”

Like most collegiate baseball players, Bergeron and Gajewski would like to play professional baseball. Perhaps they will sign with the same team.

“That would be a dream come true,” Bergeron said with a smile.