BASEBALL BEAT: MURPHY'S INJURY HURTS HIGHLAND.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer

Ace pitcher Brandon Murphy of Highland High will miss the playoffs because of an elbow injury, putting a damper on the Bulldogs' first Golden League-championship season.

Murphy, a senior right-handed transfer from North Hollywood High, hurt his arm in the first inning against Antelope Valley eight days ago. He had planned to visit the doctor on Monday but has rescheduled for next Monday, according to coach Mike Van Cheri.

``Brandon said he felt something tear, then felt his arm go numb,'' coach Mike Van Cheri said. ``He's still in a lot of pain and he can't lift up his arm.''

Murphy was 5-0 with a 3.68 and 41 strikeouts in 32 innings. His replacement, junior right-hander Drew Kennedy (5-0), pitched four strong innings to beat Palmdale on Wednesday.

Junior left-hander Tom Gonzales, who figured to alternate with Murphy in the playoffs, registered his first save against Palmdale with three shutout innings of relief. Gonzales is 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 38 innings - an average of 9.7 strikeouts per seven innings.

``Not having Brandon is a real loss for us,'' Gonzales said. ``It makes things a whole lot tougher.''

Rob Cowan (4-1) and closer Jason Kubel (1-1) are other options.

Add Highland: The team was so overjoyed after clinching the title against down-the-street rival Palmdale that players could barely contain their exuberance.

``We're high, high in the clouds right now,'' first baseman Brandon Golphenee said.

Going, going, gone: It's been a good year for home-run hitters in the Golden League.

Juniors Delwyn Young of Littlerock and John Santor of Highland both entered the week with 14, two shy of the state lead. Palmdale's Chris Testa has 11, and Littlerock's Mike Arvizo hit his 10th Wednesday.

The four sluggers are among the top seven home-run hitters in the region - including the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo valleys.

Even the Knights are better: Desert Christian, which beat Vasquez 14-3 in a nonleague game on Wednesday, is the No. 1 small-schools team (Division V) in California, according to Cal-Hi sports, which compiles state rankings.

The Knights (20-1) already have clinched their first-ever Desert Mountain League championship in nine years. Junior right-hander Dustin Schramm is 10-1 with an 0.87 ERA.

Keeping tabs dept.: Antelope Valley College outfielder Alex Suarez, a freshman from Palmdale High, went 7 for 7 with five doubles in a 27-8 season-ending victory over Barstow last week.

The seven hits and five doubles are school records and also might be state JC records.

``I'm trying to track it down if he set records or not, but I might not know for four or five months,'' said Glen Haller, AVC's sports information director. ``Community college baseball records are so screwed up, and basketball is almost as bad. Football is the only sport that they keep good track of.''

Add AVC: The baseball team finished 10-31 but won its last three games. Freshman infielder Parker Metheny (Quartz Hill) and sophomore catcher Mario Varela (Rosamond) both were named first-team All-Foothill Conference. Suarez was a second-team selection.