BOYS: ONE-TWO PUNCH VALENCIA HARD TO BEAT WITH DANDY DUO.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

VALENCIA - For veteran baseball standouts Jared Clark and Matt Aidem of Valencia High, it's nice that they don't have to pitch or hit against one another.

The misery is shared by the team's Foothill League opponents. Seniors Clark and Aidem continue to dominate in just about every facet of the game heading into the final month of the regular season.

Both are batting better than .400, and Clark leads the region with seven home runs. Just like the last couple of years, they've provided equally dominant pitching; Clark is 5-0 and Aidem is 3-1.

The impact of these two was especially apparent during Valencia's 1-0 victory over Esperanza of Anaheim in the quarterfinals Tuesday of the high-powered National Classic in Placentia. Clark's double scored Aidem in the first inning, then Aidem held Esperanza to four hits with 12 strikeouts as Valencia extended its winning streak to 10 games.

Valencia (10-4, 6-0) followed with a 13-12 loss to Villa Park in eight innings in the semifinals Wednesday. But as usual, Clark and Aidem did more than their share, with Clark going 4 for 4, including a three-run home run and Aidem going 4 for 5 with two doubles.

``It's a good feeling playing together with Matt because we're good friends off the field, too,'' Clark said. ``If one of us (messes) up, we know the other guy is going to be there to make up for it.''

Aidem said the two enjoy a friendly rivalry.

``We get along and joke around between us a lot, but we also like to push each other,'' Aidem said.

Next year, they'll be conference rivals in college, with Aidem on scholarship to UC Santa Barbara and Clark on scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.

``It's going to be fun, I think I can get a hit off him,'' Aidem said.

That is unless Clark goes pro. A group of major-league scouts follow him to just about every game, and there's a chance the 6-foot-4 Clark could be a high draft choice this June - and perhaps an instant millionaire if he signs.

``There's no limit to what Jared can do, and I should know because I see it every day,'' Aidem said. ``That home run against Villa Park came on an outside curveball, and Jared was totally fooled. But he got his bat around at the last second and hit it out. Sometimes I wish I could do things like that.''

Aidem is no slouch. His performance last season - a .581 batting average, seven home runs, 20 doubles and an out-of-sight 1.010 slugging percentage in 105 at-bats - was among the finest offensive outputs of any Valley-area player ever.

This year, just about every pitcher in the state knows who Aidem and Clark are, so the duo rarely see many good pitches to hit. Yet they're still performing terrifically, so who knows? Perhaps the best is yet to come.

Gerry Gittelson, [phone]

gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com

GIRLS: ONE IS LONELIEST NUMBER

Kontra welcomes challenge of being only pitcher for Hart

After patiently waiting her turn for three years, softball pitcher Robyn Kontra has the Hart High job all to herself. And the senior right-hander certainly is making the most of the opportunity, maturing into one of the Southland's best.

Especially of late. After throwing a no-hitter in a victory over high- powered El Toro on Saturday in the ultra-competitive Woodbridge tournament in Anaheim, Kontra followed with a 3-1 victory Tuesday over streaking Foothill League co-favorite Saugus.

After struggling through the first month of the season, Hart (8-6-1, 2-0) has taken sole possession of first place, a surprise for many who expected the team to finish no better than third.

Perhaps it's not such a surprise - at least not with Kontra in the circle. The 5-foot-9 sinker-ball specialist is 8-4 with a 1.63 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 86 innings.

After Hart's only other pitcher quit the team several weeks ago, Kontra must carry the burden herself. That doesn't seem much of problem the way she's pitching.

``I'm not really concerned about whether or not I'm the only pitcher or if we have three or four of us like last year. I'm just trying to help the team,'' Kontra said. ``Regardless of how many innings I have to go, I'm just going to pitch the same and keep trying to do better. For me it's never been about the numbers or my stats, it's about team chemistry.''

Kontra, who has committed to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, believes Hart's players are getting along better than ever. For her, such camaraderie has been the difference as Hart heads into the final stretch.

``Oh, this is absolutely the best chemistry we've had, hands down,'' she said. ``No matter what, I know we'll all be there for each other, and we're going in the same direction no matter what kind of tough jam we're in. I know in my heart that I can have confidence in every player on this team. We all get along great, and this year there aren't any cliques.''

Sixth-year coach Cathy Giordano has seen her share of great pitchers - Kontra's older sister Lindsay played for Hart and is at Oregon this season, and Giordano's daughter, Nicole, plays for the U.S. Olympic team. And Giordano couldn't be happier with Kontra.

``Robyn is on a mission this year. She really wants to do well,'' Giordano said. ``Right now she's in a zone, and she throws a Division I drop ball that is very difficult to hit. She really knows how to keep batters off-balance.''

Hart is averaging just two runs per game and needs Kontra to continue being effective. The team is batting just .181.

Kontra appears ready to take on just about anyone, and the way she's pitching, she doesn't need much run support to pull Hart through. If she can keep the pace for the rest of the season, Hart will be difficult to beat.

BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK

SAUGUS (11-3-1, 4-2) at HART (9-8, 4-2)

3:15 p.m. Tuesday

Outlook: Both already have lost to first-place Valencia, so there isn't much wiggle room for either team in the Foothill League race. Both have deep pitching but lack power hitters, so expect a low-scoring matchup.

Saugus, led by junior utility players Travis Babin and Thomas Milone, won three tournament games in Las Vegas last week. A year ago the team bonded in Vegas and went on to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in several years, so Saugus could have momentum on its side.

GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK

HART (8-6-1) vs. PACIFICA (18-2)

Noon, Saturday at Bill Barber Park in Irvine

Outlook: A victory against such a respected state power would be a milestone for underdog Hart in this attractive Woodbridge tournament semifinal.

Hart right-hander Robyn Kontra, coming off a six-hitter in a victory Tuesday over Saugus, is among the region's hottest pitchers, and she's supported by power hitters Briana Bernardi and freshman Caitlin Stiglich. But Hart faces one of the nation's premier pitchers in junior right-hander Brittany Weil. She's 13-2 with a 0.21 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 101 innings against elite competition.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2) Jared Clark, left, and Matt Aidem are leading players for Valencia, but next season they will be conference rivals when Clark heads to Cal State Fullerton and Aidem to UC Santa Barbara.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

(3) Hart can't spell relief for Robyn Carter this season because the senior right-hander is the only pitcher on the team.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK (see text)

(2) GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK (see text)

(3) COMING UP

(4) LOOK BACK

(5) STANDINGS

(6) TIME OUT