BASEBALL: VETERAN SKILLS MILONE SHINES DESPITE IT BEING JUST FIRST YEAR ON SAUGUS VARSITY.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Thomas Milone was a big winner in Las Vegas last week.

He collected seven hits in 10 at-bats, including a home run, and also had a pitching victory as Saugus High's baseball team went 4-0 to win its bracket at the annual Bishop Gorman tournament.

Of course, such success is nothing new for Milone, who continues to develop into one of the Foothill League's best sophomores - actually, he's among the league's best players, period - for the streaky Centurions (10-6-1, 3-4-1), who won six in a row before losing to Burbank on Tuesday.

Milone, a pitcher/first baseman, is batting .432 with two home runs, five stolen bases, a .569 on-base percentage and a team-high 12 walks in 37 at-bats. As a pitcher, he's 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 19 innings. Milone is also one of the team's most dependable fielders, committing just one error in 53 chances.

``Thomas was the MVP of the freshman team last year, but it's still hard to say how good he's going to be one day,'' Saugus coach Casey Burrill said. ``He's a bright prospect, and we need his bat in the lineup.''

One of just two sophomores on the team - third baseman Travis Babin is the other - Milone's performance has helped him feel comfortable and accepted by his older teammates.

``Everyone treats me as an equal even though we're in different grades,'' he said. ``It's nice to know I'm one of the guys. That's important for me.''

Milone and Burrill agreed that to stay on the varsity, Milone had to be good enough to make the starting lineup. Otherwise, Burrill figured, it would make more sense for Milone to get at-bats on the junior varsity instead of sitting on the bench.

``I told Thomas, `Hey, you don't need to be one of the best 18 guys. You need to be in the top nine,' '' Burrill said.

So Milone spends Sundays on the baseball field, taking extra batting practice and continuing to improve.

``Thomas bats third and I bat fourth, and it's great having him right in front of me in the lineup,'' teammate Mike Scripture said. ``He gets on base so much, it gives me more chances to get RBI. I trust him, and he's doing very well. He's rock solid.''

SOFTBALL: Just like her sis

Kontra dominating as Hart pitcher

NEWHALL - Expectations have followed Robyn Kontra since the beginning of her softball career at Hart High, and she really never had much choice about it. Her sister, Lindsey, was among Hart's best all-time pitchers before committing to Oregon two years ago,

Kontra's a pitcher, too, so it was only natural for her to be a star player as well, right? Actually, yes.

After a couple of bumpy seasons, the younger Kontra has blossomed as a junior. She went 33 innings this season before giving up her first earned run, and she's 5-0 with a 0.39 ERA, two saves and 36 strikeouts - with just five walks - in 35 2/3 innings heading into the final month of the season.

``I have another year under my belt, and things are going well,'' Kontra said. ``My sister's been a big inspiration to me, and we still talk every day on the phone or on the Internet. She's helped directly and physically.''

Kontra pitched just eight innings as a freshman - when her sister and Pittsburgh-bound Casey Pickard were Hart's main pitchers - and never established herself as a full-time starter as a sophomore last season, as Hart rotated four pitchers.

Hart is experimenting with four pitchers again this season - most high-quality teams rarely use more than two - but Kontra believes that's a good thing.

``I think we're fortunate to have enough pitchers who can handle themselves. It's not about one person,'' Kontra said.

You can't argue with success. Hart (13-5, 2-1) is one game out of first place in the Foothill League after Tuesday's victory over Burbank.

Teammate Erica Duhart said Kontra's hard work during the offseason is obvious.

``Robyn is so much more positive now,'' Duhart said. ``Until this year, she's never really gotten much of a chance, and when she did get in there, sometimes she got hit. But she's got more experience now, and it's making a big difference. She's progressed so fast.''

Kontra spent the summer participating in travel-ball tournaments and working with well-known private pitching coach Dennis Ford.

``All of a sudden, Robyn's got a Division-I drop (pitch),'' Hart coach Cathy Giordano said. ``She's been a very hard worker. Plus, she's a great kid from a great family.''

Now that Kontra has emerged into the pitcher everyone thought she'd be, the comparisons to her older sister are louder than ever.

Kontra just shrugs.

``Well, I think it's fantastic that Lindsey was able to do so well and play college softball,'' she said. ``It's been quieter in our house since she left - but never completely quiet. I still remember the days when we were little kids and our dad used to work out with both of us in the backyard. Hopefully, I'll get to play college softball, too.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 7 boxes

Photo:

(1) Despite being just a sophomore, Saugus' Thomas Milone has been one of the team's standouts this season.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

(2) Hart High's Robyn Kontra is becoming as good a pitcher as her sister, Lindsey, having gone 5-0 this season with a 0.39 ERA in 35 2/3 innings.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) TIME OUT

(2) COMING UP

(3) GAME OF THE WEEK: Hart at Valencia Today, 3:15 p.m.

(4) GAME OF THE WEEK: Valencia at Hart Thursday, 3:15 p.m.

(5) LOOK BACK

(6) STANDINGS

(7) OFF THE CHART