AREA SEES A FAREWELL TO ARMS UNLIKE LAST SEASON, HITTERS SEEM TO HAVE THE EDGE OVER PITCHERS.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

Where have all the pitchers gone? Gone to college, most every one.

Last year, the area had not seen such quality in one season in a long time. Many schools had not one but two quality pitchers who could dominate.

The hitters didn't stand a chance.

Now, as the 2000 season opens, it's the pitchers who had better beware.

True, we still have some of last year's quality arms around, including Hart High's Jamie Shields, the Daily News Player of the Year, Palmdale's Matt Harrington, Calabasas' Tony Sulser and Chris Cordeiro of Thousand Oaks, although Shields hurt his back and might miss the start.

And, this year, pitchers such as Marshall Plouffe of Crespi, Jason Urquidez of Chaminade, Tracy Goebel of Thousand Oaks, Matt Parris of Highland, Josh Deneau of El Camino Real and Camarillo's John Gonzalez are posed for breakout seasons.

There just aren't as many of them.

Hitters, however, we have.

``Not every team has the legitimate (No.) one and two (pitchers) as in the past,'' Valencia coach Jared Snyder said. ``You have that No. 1 who you know can win for you, and now your No. 2 guys - you've got to do a couple things right (and) other teams have got to make a mistake. You don't have the No. 2 who can go and be a No. 1 somewhere else.''

Perhaps no team typifies this scenario than Notre Dame. The Knights could have their own version of the Bash Brothers with Matt Cunningham, Brendan Ryan, Alec Moss, Chris Dickerson and Jonathan Brewster.

But they will be hard-pressed to come close to last year's 1.50 ERA.

Expect plenty of 10-9 games.

``There will be some fun games to go to,'' Notre Dame coach Tom Dill said, `'as long as you're not the one who's getting lit up.''

You want offense? Look no further than behind the plate. Besides Cunningham, who's going to Rice, Chaminade's Jonathan Higashi hit .463. Spencer Wyman is a power threat, as is Phil Avlas of Kennedy and Newbury Park's Joey Hamer.

But the power is everywhere. Littlerock's Delwyn Young hit 22 home runs the last two seasons. Highland second baseman John Santor hit .554 with 15 homers and had 54 RBI last year. His teammate, Jason Kubel (.550), could do as much. People are saying El Camino Real shortstop Conor Jackson is the real deal, although his teammate, outfielder Sean McElroy, likely will hit more homers. Chatsworth shortstop Matt Fisher (.400) has developed more power, as has Grant's Felipe Tetelboin (.463, 8 HRs, 35 RBI). Poly's Eder Tapia hit .450 in the playoffs last year.

Valencia's Rich Martin his 13 homers last year. Brian Lipman of Royal hit 11 homers and drove in 54 runs last year. His teammate, Casey O'Quin, hit .513 last season. Randy Curtis of Calabasas is batting .444 lifetime and hit .471 last year. Mark McCauley (.407) will set Crescenta Valley's career hit record this season.

If Hart's Matt Friedrichsen comes back from his broken arm, and if Westlake's Tyler Adamczyk returns from mononucleosis, there's two more bats pitchers don't want to face.

Is that enough to make pitchers sick? Well, don't forget Matt Thayer of Harvard-Westlake, whom Snyder has tabbed the player of the year; Billy Lockin of Thousand Oaks (.429), Brian Horwitz of Crespi (.368), Jonathan Oller of Crespi, who came alive in American Legion, and Ryan Haag of Hart and his 50 hits

On the small-school front, pitchers Tim Thompson of Grace Brethren, Andrew Petersen of L.A. Baptist and Mike Frost of Campbell Hall can hit.

DAILY NEWS PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Thousand Oaks: There's no denying this team has all of the ingredients. It has the best 1-2 pitching combination in UCLA-bound Chris Cordeiro (7-2, 2.42 ERA, 69Ks in 75 IP) and senior Tracy Goebel (6-2, 2.81 ERA, 52Ks in 57IP). Plus, senior Greg Simonetti won 11 games on the junior varsity and eight in American Legion ball last summer.

It has solid defense in senior catcher Brent Schilhab, senior shortstop Billy Lockin (.429, 39 hits) and senior second baseman Adam Leavitt (.379, 31 hits).

And it has the hitting, although it lacks power. Lockin and Leavitt helped the team bat .353 last season and .418 with runners in scoring position.

2. Hart: Maybe if the defending Southern Section champions weren't so injured, they would be No. 1. They have the pitcher in Daily News Player of the Year Jamie Shields (11-0) who also can hit (.478 average, 11 homers). Shields may miss a couple of weeks with a back injury, coach Jim Ozella said. They have other decent pitchers in juniors Eric Posthumus and Bill Susdorf. And they have the hitters: Senior Ryan Haag (.485) had 50 hits last season. Senior outfielder Marke Horvat (.304, 6 HRs) and senior catcher Brandon Montemayor (.356) are fine hitters as well.

So is outfielder Matt Friedrichsen (.398, 11 HR), but he has a broken hand and is expected back later in March. Outfielder/pitcher Mike Miller has a sprained ankle and sophomore infielder Chris Giordano has been suspended for the season for undisclosed disciplinary reasons. Oh, and there's a new coach, Ozella, replacing Bud Murray.

3. Westlake: Another stacked team, but the Warriors top pitcher, junior Tyler Adamczyk, has been weakened by mononucleosis. It falls to senior Jesse Kozlowski. Watch out also for outfielder Cory Taillon (.460) and shortstop Jeff Dragicevich (.413).

4. Highland: You might want to drive out and catch this team. Senior John Santor hit .553 with 15 home runs, 55 RBI, 15 doubles and 46 hits - all school records. Senior Jason Kubel is going to Long Beach State after hitting .550 with seven homers and 36 RBI last year. Senior catcher Daniel Champieux hit .373 with seven homers and 29 RBI.

5. El Camino Real: The City favorites have Cal-bound Conor Jackson at shortstop (he can hit, too). Mike Leduc is a quality catcher, and outfielder Sean McElroy has that short right-field fence staring at him.

6. Notre Dame: Lots of bats, not a lot of arms. Senior catcher Matt Cunningham is going to Rice. Outfielder Chris Dickerson is heading to Nevada. Shortstop Jonathan Brewster will be at USC. Infielder Alec Moss is choosing between Arizona State and Xavier. Brendan Ryan is a three-year starter at second base. All can hit.

As for pitching, well, the arms graduated last year, leaving senior Daniel Brown to take over.

7. Calabasas: Too bad the Coyotes play in the weak Frontier League because we would love to see what they could do against the big boys. Still, pitcher Tony Sulser (9-2, .304 avg) and infielder Randy Curtis (.471, 40 hits, 28 RBI) look to have bigger senior years.

8. Chaminade: Senior Jon Higashi is among the area's best catchers. Junior Jason Urquidez is the Mission League's best pitcher. Infielder Ryan Soroka and outfielder Erik Johnson can hit.

9. Crespi: The Celts have the pitching in senior Marshall Plouffe (5-1, 2.75 ERA), and Clint Kofinehl (3-0, 6.13 ERA) likely will improve. Catcher Matt Wilson (.410), shortstop Dale Legaspi (.389), infielder/outfielder Brian Horwitz (.368) and infielder Jonathan Oller (.323) can hit.

10. Chatsworth: The defending City champions keep losing players and keep retooling. The top returnee is shortstop Matt Fisher (.400), who has developed additional power. It will be up to junior infielder Gregg Wallis and senior outfielders Nick Huston and Brett Munson to join him.

- Lee Barnathan

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo: (1) Among the area's expected offensive stars this season is Casey O'Quin of Royal.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer

(2) The Highlanders' Brian Lipman hit 11 homers and drove in 54 runs last season.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box: Daily News Preseason Top 10 (see text)