Kernen’s Message Fools Northridge 6 Like a Slow Curve : College baseball: Benched players just starting to realize that angry coach wasn’t kidding around.

The thing is, Bill Kernen rarely smiles once he puts on the Cal State Northridge uniform.

Somehow, he thinks there are members of his team who still believe he’s been fooling around when he benched a pack of players over the past week.

“Some didn’t fully realize that I wasn’t kidding,” Kernen said. “Now they’re thinking, ‘Hmmm.’ ”

Six players are thinking exactly that, and then some, though one more Matador worked his way out of Kernen’s doghouse Tuesday.

The Kernen blacklist continued into its seventh day when the coach again refused to let a half-dozen players suit up Tuesday night for a nonconference game won by Long Beach, 7-6.

In what has come to resemble a daily player vigil, Kernen said he will decide Thursday who makes the trip for a crucial three-game series at San Diego State. Northridge and San Diego State are tied atop the Western Athletic Conference West Division standings with 6-3 records.

Last Wednesday, Kernen benched several starters for what he termed an overall lack of fortitude and made the team play a nonconference game with Cal Lutheran without its uniform shirts.

Monday, seven players--including four starters--were left behind as Northridge ventured to Malibu and defeated Pepperdine, 6-4. The seven made their way to the game on their own and watched from the stands.

Anxious players learned who was making the trip by reading a list posted on the dugout wall. Twelve players dressed for the game, leaving as many coaches (three) as players in the dugout when Northridge was in the field.

The entire team made the trip to Long Beach because of liability reasons; because the benched players haven’t been officially removed from the team, they no longer will be allowed to travel to games on their own.

One player was granted a reprieve Tuesday and moved from street clothes and the grandstand into the starting lineup. And third baseman Tyler Nelson was more than glad to hear the news, though he wasn’t particularly sure why he was excused from detention.

“I guess (Kernen) thought about it some more,” Nelson said. “I’m just glad to be back.”

Said Kernen: “Nelson’s stuff was minor in comparison with the others. He didn’t have the same severity problem.

“I’m starting to work my way through this. I’ve talked to some people. I’m still looking for some answers (on other players).”

Six others remain in limbo: pitchers Rick Orr, Evan Howland and James Hines, infielder Keyaan Cook, outfielder Kevin Howard and catcher Josh Smaler.

Kernen admitted for the first time that he feels badly for the seniors and players who haven’t been in his doghouse because he knows he isn’t putting his best possible product on the field. But he said he won’t compromise his standards nor the program’s reputation.

“We’re not going to win a league championship with this,” Kernen said, motioning toward the field. “The worst feeling is for the guys who have been with us all the way and didn’t get a chance to win it or lose it on the field.

“But hey, it wasn’t working before with those (benched) guys, so it was a no-risk move.”

Kernen met Tuesday with Northridge Athletic Director Bob Hiegert--who coached the baseball team to NCAA Division II titles in 1970 and 1984--to discuss the details of the weeklong affair. Kernen said the two will meet again today “for a progress report.”

Hiegert said the two discussed Kernen’s decision to play without uniform shirts last week--an NCAA violation--and about the players’ sardonic decision before the game to fly the American flag over the dugout at half-staff.

“That won’t happen again,” Hiegert said, referring to both situations.

Kernen said he has met with each of the exiled players individually, but says that their status likely will not change.

Pitchers Marco Contreras and John Najar also spoke with the coach before the Long Beach game and made a plea on their teammates’ behalf.

There’s no guarantee more players won’t ride pine, either. Just because the list shrunk by one Tuesday doesn’t mean it couldn’t grow. Here today, gone tomorrow?

“It’s a day-to-day thing,” Kernen said. “It’s never going to be completely over.

“Whoever’s out there in uniform are going to be the guys who give me 100%.”