AVC NOTEBOOK: FOOTHILL SOFTBALL CHAMPS EXPECT REGIONAL CHALLENGE.

Byline: Nathan Brown  Staff Writer

After breezing through the Foothill Conference with a 12-0 record, Antelope Valley College's softball team finally will be put to the test in the California Community College State regional playoffs Saturday.

The 11th-seeded Marauders (27-9-1, 12-0) will face No. 6 seed Ventura in the opener of the double-elimination tournament at Cerritos College in Norwalk. The regional event concludes Sunday.

Antelope Valley and Ventura played a scoreless tie through seven innings at the Ventura tournament April 3, and the Marauders believe Ventura is beatable.

``We just need to hit the ball,'' Foothill Co-Coach of the Year Cindy Vargas said. ``If we pitch the same and play defense the same, we've got a really good chance.''

After cruising through conference play, AVC got a look at top competition in the season's final game, against 2003 state champion Mt. San Antonio College of Walnut (39-3, 14-1). The Marauders lost 5-2, but the game could have gone the other way.

``You need to play perfect this time of year,'' Vargas said. ``The first game (in the playoffs) is so important. I don't think anyone has ever lost the first game and come back to win four in a row. We don't want to go against history.''

The Marauders will count heavily on All-State selection Amy Paradiso.

The Paraclete High product led AVC in hits (55), RBI (44), home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.756).

``She's had a great year,'' Vargas said. ``She's come through for us in some big games, and that says a lot about her.''

The Marauders are coming off a dismal 2004 season in which they did not qualify for the playoffs. The Marauders lost in the 2003 playoffs in Long Beach, outscored 24-0 in two games.

--Marauders advancing: The track and field team advanced four individuals and one team to Saturday's Southern California finals at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

Jose Burrola, a 1,500-meter standout, is expected to move on to the May 13-14 state championships at American River College in Sacramento. He has shown constant improvement after two injuries earlier in the year.

``He's one of the guys that has an opportunity to make it (to state),'' coach Mark Covert said. ``Barring any real problems, he should advance.''

Burrola ran his best time of the year at last week's Southern California qualifying meet, 4 minutes, 3.07 seconds. His previous best was 4:06.44.

Covert also expects Krystal Quinn to advance.

``She's got an excellent chance of advancing in both the pole vault and 400 meters,'' he said.

Other Marauders competing Saturday are TaMesha Jefferson (high jump), Nicholas Miconi (hammer throw) and the women's 1,600 relay team.

--New faces: The football team has started spring training and will evaluate talent from area high schools. The classes combine football technique with community service, which enables high school seniors to participate.

Nathan Brown, [phone]

nate.brown(at)dailynews.com