ALL SIGNS POINT TO VALENCIA.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

Valencia High, expected to be a powerhouse in baseball and softball again this season, first must compete against Mother Nature.

Rain has made the first week of practice difficult, but both hope to kick the season into gear Saturday with opening scrimmage doubleheaders at Valencia - with weather permitting. The baseball team plays annual powers Chaminade of West Hills at 9:30 a.m. and West Torrance at 2:30 p.m. The softball team plays Santa Monica - coached by Debbie Staggs, twin sister of Valencia coach Donna Lee - in a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.

Valencia never has qualified for a Southern Section baseball or softball final, but has advanced to at least the quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons. The top pitchers are back for both the softball and baseball team so if this isn't Valencia's year, then it might not happen for a long time.

The baseball team, particularly, has a terrific chance to win a title. After reaching the semifinals with a 23-7 record last year, standout pitcher/outfielders Matt Aidem and Jared Clark are back, along with a group of veteran starters, including catcher Wes Pascolla and shortstop Danny Worth.

Also, third baseman Casey Mulligan, who batted .447 with three home runs in 38 at-bats after being promoted from junior varsity midseason last year, is probably the Foothill League's brightest young prospect.

The softball team has won at least 25 games three seasons in a row - including a school-record 27-4 last year - but has yet to advance past the quarterfinals, a frustrating trend for a program otherwise considered one of the Southland's best. Most of the team's key hitters have graduated, including sluggers Ashley Herrera and Jaisa Creps, who now is at UCLA. But senior pitcher Christina Ross is back. Ross, a left-hander who has committed to Kansas, is dominant enough to build the whole team around. The other key returnee is four-year starting third baseman Kortney Bell. She has committed to Tennessee, though she has yet to enjoy a big offensive season.

--Hart High sophomore Tyler Lyon, expected to compete with returning junior Robbie Moore for the starting quarterback position on the football team this fall, is playing varsity baseball.

At the same time, Moore will work out with the football team during spring practice.

Does that mean Lyon will fall behind?

``Probably,'' said Lyon's father, Chuck, who is the football coach at College of the Canyons. ``But I've always believed kids should play as many sports as they can. As a parent, if that puts my son behind in football, so be it. I don't like all this specialization in one sport nowadays. I've encouraged Tyler to play baseball, too.''

--Two of Hart boys' basketball coach Tom Kelly's most loyal female fans always dress in matching Hart gear, and give the coach a congratulatory kiss after every game. They're his twin, nine-month-old daughters, Megan and Madelyn.