Friday, April 4, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.
In an August whirlwind, Matt Luca went from attending Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas -- if a deal with the Cincinnati Reds didn't materialize -- to packing up his black Ford F150 and leaving Galveston for Las Vegas.
The decision has already provided Luca and UNLV with rich dividends. A week ago, this 6-foot-6 freshman right-hander threw the third no-hitter in the program's history in a 5-0 victory against San Diego State at Wilson Stadium.
"It was a last-minute decision and I couldn't be happier anywhere else," he said of becoming a Rebel for at least three years. "I'm glad I made this decision. There are great players here, and we have great chemistry."
The chemistry between Luca, 18, and catcher Robert VanKirk was evident against the Aztecs, and they'll go at it again tonight at 6:30 when the 24th-ranked Rebels (23-9, 7-2 in the Mountain West Conference) play host to New Mexico (22-10, 7-2).
VanKirk, a much-traveled senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said he had a unique feeling when he walked to Wilson last Friday afternoon. Already, it was becoming chilly. The wind, notorious for blowing out, was blowing in.
"It was funny, a weird feeling, like something was going to happen," VanKirk said. "It was a different feeling about that game. Then, in the first inning, he struck out the first two batters and got a pop-up for an out.
"I said to myself, 'It looks like he has some good stuff today,' which is always good. But I wasn't thinking no-hitter."
Luca, whose debut as a Rebel was slowed by tendinitis in his right biceps, struck out one Aztec after falling behind 3-0. To another, he spun a curveball over the plate for a strike on a 2-0 count.
"When you're looking for a fastball ... me, as a hitter, it would throw me off when a pitcher can throw a 2-0 curve for a strike," VanKirk said. "And as we went farther into the game, he gained strength and composure. A lot of the pitchers I've seen in college for four years haven't been able to do that.
"And he's a freshman."
Luca (2-0, 3.58 ERA) was nearly a Red, as Cincinnati dangled $100,000 before its 22nd-round selection. Back up less than 48 hours, however, from that mid-August offer from Cincinnati, to when Schlossnagle first contacted Luca.
Brad Thompson, a former Cimarron-Memorial High standout, starred at Dixie State College for two years and had committed to UNLV. Then he de-committed, accepting a deal from the St. Louis Cardinals two weeks before classes started at UNLV on Aug. 26.
A stunned Schlossnagle was at a tournament in Long Beach, Calif., when he learned of the sudden scholarship he had available. Professional scouts and other peers told him about a 6-6 ace in Galveston who might end up at Angelina, a junior college.
From his stretch as Tulane's pitching coach, Schlossnagle has a deep pool of contacts in Texas, and colleagues at Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M raved about Luca.
Two Lucas are listed in the Galveston telephone directory, and Schlossnagle struck gold on his first attempt. He and Matt, who has relatives in the Reno area, talked twice that day for almost four hours, but the Reds were first on Luca's agenda.
He visited Cincinnati on Aug. 15, throwing off the Cinergy Field mound only an hour before Arizona left-hander Randy Johnson mowed down the Reds and then meeting assorted Cincinnati players and front-office personnel.
Luca was treated like royalty, but said he wouldn't allow himself to be carried away by the experience. He flew home, spent a weekend on the beach at Galveston Island, then called Schlossnagle to tell him he was loading his rig for the drive west.
"If you work hard enough, you run into stories like that," Schlossnagle said. "Otherwise, he'd be at Angelina right now."
Angelina Roadrunners coach Jeff Livin did not return phone messages, but Luca acknowledged Livin's disappointment. Luca also said UNLV assistant coach Buddy Gouldsmith told him that a college education is worth about $2.1 million.
"It just wasn't the time or place," Luca said of being wooed by the Reds. "If I had three-quarters of my degree done and Cincinnati had offered me that, maybe it would have been a different decision on my part. But it wasn't worth giving up college for that amount of money.
"I wanted to come to college and enjoy life here. I've made many great friends, and you can't beat that."
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