COLLEGE BASEBALL / GARY KLEIN : Big West Leader Nevada Exceeds Expectations

Gary Powers knew the University of Nevada would be competitive when it joined the Big West Conference last season, but he didn’t expect to be contending for a championship this soon.

Powers, in his 12th season as coach of the Wolf Pack, has his team in first place, percentage points ahead of Cal State Fullerton, with six conference games remaining. Nevada is 34-8 overall and 11-4 in the Big West after winning two of three games at Fullerton last weekend. The Titans are 12-5 in the conference.

The Wolf Pack is ranked sixth by Collegiate Baseball and 11th by Baseball America. Nevada plays host to San Jose State this weekend and travels to UC Santa Barbara next weekend. Third-ranked Fullerton ends its Big West schedule this weekend at New Mexico State. The Titans will also play a makeup game against Pacific if it has a bearing on the standings.

“We need to win five out of six to win the championship,” Powers said. “So far, everyone on this team has contributed. We have good balance; we don’t just look to one or two guys.”

Nevada boasts the top five batters in the Big West: Neil Garcia at .408, Mark Lewis (.388); Justin Drizos (.385); Mike Schroeder (.377) and Jay Johnson (.372).

Having won series against Fullerton and Long Beach State, Nevada seems likely to gain its first NCAA tournament appearance regardless of whether it wins the Big West title.

“We’ve played a good schedule and beat Stanford at Stanford, swept Cal, and beat (West Coast Conference leader) Santa Clara three straight,” Powers said. “With what we’ve done in conference, if that’s not good enough to get in, we’re probably never going to get in.”

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Trivia time: Which Southland school has produced the most winners of the Golden Spikes Award, presented annually since 1978 to the top amateur player in the country?

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With several experienced sophomores and a talented freshman class, most thought Stanford was a year away from winning the Pacific 10 Southern Division championship and contending for its third national title.

But the time appears to be now for the Cardinal, which finished last in the Southern Division in 1993. Stanford, ranked 13th, begins a weekend series against UCLA in first place with a 17-7 record in conference play. Stanford is a half-game ahead of fourth-ranked USC and 10th-ranked Arizona State, both 18-9.

USC will complete its conference schedule this weekend at California. Arizona State will play Stanford next weekend in the conference finale for both teams.

“We need to sweep Cal,” USC Coach Mike Gillespie said. “Then it’s, ‘Go Bruins.’ We need them to get after Stanford.”

Stanford has been led by Nate Olmstead, who is batting .363 with 41 runs batted in. Dusty Allen has seven homers and 47 RBI. Dan Reed is 9-3 with a 3.10 earned-run average.

“They better be had this year,” Gillespie said of the Cardinal, “because they’re going to be damn tough to stop next year.”

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The West Coast Conference race is also coming down to the final weeks with 17-7 Santa Clara holding a half-game lead over 18-9 Pepperdine.

Pepperdine will end conference play this weekend at San Diego. Santa Clara is at St. Mary’s this weekend and finishes with a series at Loyola next week.

Pepperdine has been led by sophomore Ruben Gamboa, who is batting .479 with three homers and 27 RBI since becoming a starter 19 games ago.

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Cal State Northridge’s fate in the Western Athletic Conference race will be determined next weekend when the Matadors travel to Fresno State.

Northridge is 12-9 in the WAC after winning two of three from first-place San Diego State last weekend. San Diego State (12-6) will play Fresno State this weekend and will finish against Sacramento State.

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Auburn senior John Powell struck out 15 in a loss to Mississippi last Friday, tying the NCAA career record for strikeouts.

Powell has 541 strikeouts, matching Derek Tatsuno’s total at Hawaii from 1977-79. He will pitch Friday night against defending national champion Louisiana State.

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Trivia answer: Cal State Fullerton. Tim Wallach in 1979 and Phil Nevin in 1992. No other Southland school has produced a Golden Spikes winner.