BIG TEST COMES EARLY FOR DESERT CHRISTIAN.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer

Desert Christian High, undefeated at 8-0, figures to know how good a baseball team it really is today. The Knights meet three-time defending Desert Mountain League champion Mammoth (4-5) today at Rosamond High at 3 p.m. in the conference opener for both teams.

Desert Christian was the only team to beat Mammoth in league last year.

The Knights send Dustin Schramm to the mound. The right-hander is one of small-school baseball's best pitchers; he is 3-0 (1.40 ERA) with 30 strikeouts and no walks in 20 innings.

``We have a whole new team from last year, so I was not sure how good this team was going to be,'' Schramm said. ``But we're doing fine.''

Desert Christian is ranked No. 13 in the Southern Section Division V poll, while Mammoth is 15th.

Mammoth has made the playoffs 10 of the last 11 years. Senior Jake Neubeauer (1-2) is the scheduled starter.

Desert Christian is coming off a 24-0 win over Bethel Christian.

``This is probably the biggest game of the year,'' Desert Christian coach Dean Spoelstra said. ``It probably will determine the Desert Mountain League championship. We have not had a lot of tough games so far, so this game should tell us a lot.''

Schramm is batting .325 with one home run and six RBI. Ryan McMichael, who was 2 for 3 with two doubles and three RBI against Bethel Christian, has a .700 on-base percentage, and Phil Parker is batting .400 with 10 RBI.

Mammoth returns several all-league players, including outfielders J.R. Maupin and Cory Smart, and shortstop Bubby Greene. Maupin is batting .350 with six stolen bases, Smart is hitting .393 with four home runs, and leadoff hitter Greene is batting 410.

Catcher Dylan Whitmore is Mammoth's top newcomer. He is batting .500 with three home runs.