BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: PLAYERS CHIP IN DESPITE INJURIES.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Injuries have left two of the Marmonte League's best catchers finding other ways to stand out.

Westlake's Konrad Thieme, who has attracted significant attention from pro scouts, is bothered by a cyst in his knee, and Agoura's Ohio State-bound Adam Schneider is recovering from shoulder surgery. But both players are contributing at new positions.

Thieme is being used as a pitcher, aiding a Warriors rotation that is seeking arms to eat up innings while expected ace Cody Cipriano is slowed by tightness in his shoulder, which prompted an MRI on Thursday. Thieme appeared in relief in Wednesday's Marmonte-opening victory over previously undefeated Simi Valley.

``He throws hard,'' Westlake coach Josh Eby said of the 6-foot-4 player, who throws in the upper-80s. ``He's big and strong. ... And we need him now.''

Schneider remains in Agoura's lineup as a designated hitter, where he's contributed performances such as the 2-for-3, 3-RBI day he had Wednesday in a 7-3 loss to Thousand Oaks.

--Records falling at N.P.: A game after Newbury Park's Matt Eisenstein earned a share of the Ventura County record for doubles in a game with three, teammate Cody Collet added a couple of records to his collection.

Collet, who last year set the Panthers' season RBI record, homered three times in Monday's victory over University of Los Angeles to give him the team record for homers in a game and move him past Joey Hamer for Newbury Park's career home run record with 14.

``I'm still kind of awestruck,'' Collet said.

``I was kind of content with (the RBI record). When I look at the record books and see names of guys like Joey Hamer and David Lamb, and now I'm in there with them, it's kind of hard to believe.''

--A good Knight: Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks senior right-hander Daniel Rodarte gave the Knights a Mission League opener that reinforced the notion Notre Dame can contend with the league's best. Rodarte struck out 10 and walked two in a no-hitter against a solid Loyola of Los Angeles lineup.

Knights coach Tom Dill called the performance one of the most impressive he's seen at the high school level.

Notre Dame (4-1) tries to complete the sweep of the Cubs (3-2) today when they play at Notre Dame.

--Small ball, big results: Chaminade of West Hills is avoiding what many anticipated to be a rebuilding year by finding success through playing little ball.

``Mainly it's been our speed,'' Chaminade coach Mark Gubicza said. ``We're real good at manufacturing runs. We focus a lot on situational hitting, moving guys over, bunting, stealing bases.''

The Eagles (5-1) are 18 of 21 in stolen-base attempts after stealing four bases in Tuesday's victory over St. Francis of La Canada.

Senior outfielder Jim Rapoport's speed was confirmed when he was clocked as the fastest runner at last summer's Area Code Games. He has a team-high five stolen bases but is far from the only one doing the damage. Senior Matt Hynick, who like Rapoport is frequently on base thanks to a .500-plus batting average, has four stolen bases.