COACH WARY DESPITE MOORPARK'S 4 SOFTBALL TITLES.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

The Moorpark High School softball team has won four straight Frontier League championships. And though the Musketeers are one of the favorites to capture this year's title, coach Tom Humphries isn't about to take anything for granted.

He doesn't think his team will, either. Not after it got beaten by rival Santa Clara last week.

``In the long run that loss may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened,'' Humphries predicted. ``It made the girls painfully aware that any team can beat you on any day. Maybe we needed that to happen early to let us know that we have to battle every time we play.''

And his feelings about winning a fifth-straight championship?

``Everybody seems to expect us (to win a fifth straight). Maybe we will, maybe we won't.''

If the Musketeers are to keep the streak going, youngsters will have to lead the way. Only one senior - Tina Milburn - plays a role. The rest of the club is made up of underclassmen.

That obviously creates a good situation for the future, but it could mean some struggles in the interim.

Milburn should be able to help bridge that gap for the younger players. She provides much of the team's offensive power and when she gets on base, she can be a terror for opponents.

``She's a very strong hitter with a lot of power,'' Humphries said. ``And she's got tremendous speed on the bases.''

Tina is one half of Moorpark's Milburn combination. Younger sister Tracey is perhaps the best athlete on the team.

Both are three-sport stars, having competed earlier in volleyball and basketball for the Musketeers.

Humphries believes there's one other sport that Tracey enjoys the most.

``I think if you were to ask her she'd probably say she likes soccer more than anything,'' he said. ``But she's obviously talented in everything she chooses to do. I would imagine that she'll be able to be competitive in college as well.''

That will have to wait, not that Humphries minds having her around another year.

``She's a tremendous athlete,'' he said.

Perhaps Moorpark's biggest surprise has been sophomore pitcher Erin Heinbechner, who has come up big on a number of occasions this year.

``If I had to pick one player for people to keep their eyes on, it would be Erin,'' Humphries said. ``She's done a great job pitching.''

Humphries attributes the Musketeers' recent success to outstanding pitching. Heinbechner has not only stepped right in and continued that tradition, but she's proven that before her career is through she might be one of the best to ever play at the school.

``She's got tremendous promise,'' Humphries said. ``Her ball has great movement and at the same time, she can throw the ball hard. When she mixes it up, she can baffle batters.''

Another player who has provided a spark is sophomore third baseman Meaghan Finnerty, a defensive standout who also adds a strong bat to the mix.

``She's one of the best hitters on the team,'' Humphries said. ``Plus she's got great speed. She's very aggressive when she gets on base.''

Humphries' main concern is the Musketeers' youth and their play defensively, which has been spotty at times.

In the loss against Santa Clara, Moorpark had six errors.

In a win over Malibu, the Musketeers had four errors. Fortunately they were able to overcome those miscues, but Humphries feels it's only a matter of time before that kind of defensive showing catches up with his team like it did against Santa Clara.

``There's such a thing as timely errors, the kind that don't hurt you,'' Humphries said. ``But I think you're just lucky when you're able to get away with it. More often than not, errors have a way of putting you in a hole. We can't afford that to happen.''