BASEBALL: EXCEEDING HIS EXPECTATIONS PALMDALE STAR IS ENJOYING AN MVP-TYPE YEAR.

Byline: HEATHER GRIPP AND RAMONA SHELBURNE  Staff Writers

While Kyle Eveland and Josh White were teammates on an offseason scout team, they often joked about their status as leading players for the upcoming high school baseball season. Each predicted the other would be this year's Golden League MVP.

As far as the Palmdale High baseball team is concerned, Eveland is living up to the billing of an MVP candidate. The senior is a slick-fielding shortstop, a pitcher and a hard-working role model for the Golden League leaders.

``He hasn't disappointed,'' Palmdale coach Craig Mesler said.

Eveland is batting .304 and has been walked a team-high 16 times in 16 games. In 15 1/3 innings as the Falcons' closer, he is 3-1 with two saves, 19 strikeouts and a 0.91 ERA.

As well as he's done on the mound, Eveland doubts if he'll continue pitching when he plays next season at Central Arizona Junior College.

``I don't really consider myself a pitcher,'' Eveland said, noting he pitches because he is willing to do anything to help the team. ``Growing up in Little League and Pony League and everything, I pitched, but I always liked infield better.''

After spending recent seasons as Palmdale's second baseman, the 5- foot-10 player moved to shortstop - his favorite position - this season.

Mesler, in his first season with the Falcons, has nothing but praise for what he's seen from the player who often talks a few of his teammates into staying after practice with him to work on hitting or take extra ground balls.

``Defensively, he's doing great,'' Mesler said. ``Basically anything hit to him, he's making great plays. He's got great range and a cannon of an arm. He's money.''

Baseball runs in Eveland's family, and having an older brother who pitches in the minor leagues has benefited the younger Eveland as a hitter and a pitcher. When older brother Dana, a left-hander for the Milwaukee Brewers' Double-A affiliate, is home for the offseason, he gives Kyle pitching advice and throws batting practice pitches for him.

``Every day he's home, I'm like 'Let's go to the park and play,' '' Kyle said. ``He pitches to me a lot.''

The brothers call each other after every game. There has been more good news than expected to report this season.

Palmdale is in first place with two weeks left in the regular season. Eveland, who has never played for a Falcons team that advanced past the first round of the playoffs, figured with so many young players on this year's team, he would be lucky to even get into the playoffs. He is excited about the possibility of departing with his first league title.

``It would be amazing,'' Eveland said. ``The last two years we had solid teams, but we had bad luck.''

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com

SOFTBALL: Newfound power keeps duo competitive

Leadoff, power hitters have Lancaster on win streak

Lyndsey Lane and Katie Cornelison always have been competitive with each other when it comes to softball. They make wagers on whether one will get a double, or that the other won't hit a double. If there's a bet to be made or a challenge to compete for, Lane and Cornelison are up for it.

When it came to home runs, though, Cornelison had a bit of an unfair advantage.

Lane has made her mark at Lancaster High as a leadoff batter and emotional leader of the team. She can hit for extra bases, but her power was limited to doubles and triples. Cornelison is known as one of the top power hitters in the Golden League.

That is, until recently.

Lane hit the first home run of her career in perhaps the biggest game of Lancaster's season. With the Eagles trailing 9-8 to Highland of Palmdale on April 19, Lane led off the top of the seventh with a line drive double off the wall in right field to start a rally. Later in the inning, she drove a three-run home run over the right field fence to help lead Lancaster to a 15-9, come-from-behind victory.

``That was exhilarating, I had such a huge smile on my face,'' Lane said. ``I loved that game. I'll always remember it.''

In addition to keeping Lancaster from slipping to fifth place in the Golden League, the victory started Lancaster's four-game league streak.

Even more importantly though, Lane's home run expanded the scope of hers and Cornelison's competitiveness.

``Now we can compete in home runs, too,'' Cornelison said. ``This is the first year I've hit more than one or two home runs. I've been more of a line drive hitter. But now that she can hit them too, we're both like, 'Hey, this is pretty cool.' ''

That game has started Lane on a torrid streak. She's been the hottest hitter on a team that's scored 38 runs in its past three games. On Tuesday against Littlerock, she smacked three doubles.

Not bad for a player who struggled the first part of the season while adjusting to a new batting stance. Lane hit close to .400 last season, but changed her batting stance over the summer when she attended a camp at BYU.

For a while, it seemed great. She was hitting well and for power. Once she got back to school though, and started playing this spring, it was hard to be comfortable with the new mechanics.

``I don't know why I ever changed,'' she said. ``I should've just left it alone.''

Finally, right before the Highland game, Lane went back to her old stance and it paid immediate dividends.

``That was first home run I've ever hit,'' Lane said. ``I didn't even hit them in (recreational play). I just feel a lot more confident up there now.''

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 5 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Palmdale's Kyle Eveland has had a solid season as a shortstop and closer. He's also a Golden League MVP candidate.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Lancaster leadoff hitter Lyndsey Lane has added power to her offensive game this season, recently hitting her first home run.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) STANDINGS

(2) LEADING OFF

(3) COMING UP

(4) BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK

(5) GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK