It was a just reward. After batting...

It was a just reward. After batting .490 with 47 runs batted in during his senior season at Chatsworth High, Bryan LaCour headed off to Stanford.

But after two years with the Cardinal, one as a redshirt and the other watching from the bench, LaCour got a sinking feeling every time he stepped onto Sunken Diamond.

Now his spirits are soaring. LaCour transferred to UC Santa Barbara and is the third baseman. Last week in a 12-9 victory over Cal State Northridge, he went three for four. In eight games, he is batting .333 with eight runs, five extra-base hits and 10 runs batted in.

Another area product enjoying a new start at Santa Barbara (5-3) is Brad Wright, a sophomore from Crespi High who transferred after two frustrating seasons at Cal. Wright, the Gaucho left fielder, is batting .290.

Santa Barbara, which plays at Pepperdine today at 2 p.m., is also getting production from Justin Balzer, a designated hitter from El Camino Real High who is nine for 16 (.563) with two home runs, and Jorvic Salazar, a relief pitcher from Crespi who has a 1.23 earned-run average in 7 1/3 innings.

Looking forward to facing the Gauchos is Pepperdine first baseman Tyler Ferrer, who transferred from Santa Barbara before the season. Ferrer, son of former Gaucho Coach Al Ferrer, was injured most of last season after serving as designated hitter in 1995.