DOUBLE DOSE OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

At Valencia High, Tuesday was a dark sports day as the baseball and softball teams - both of which figured to have the best chance among locals to reach a Southern Section final - were eliminated in the second round.

The second-seeded baseball team (20-8), which returned eight starters (including heralded major-league prospect Jared Clark) after reaching the semifinals last year, fell quietly 4-1 at Norco. The softball team, hoping to finally make a name for itself outside the Santa Clarita Valley after being upset in the playoffs the past three years, was eliminated in a 3-1 loss at Rosary of Fullerton - an opponent seeded No. 2 but not invincible considering its eight regular-season losses.

Baseball coach Jared Snyder said he'll miss his players, especially those he's coached for four seasons such as veteran starters Clark, Matt Aidem and Wes Pascolla.

But considering the team could almost smell the Dodger dogs cooking - the final is set for Dodger Stadium on June 5 - the coach was less than thrilled about such an early exit.

``We lost to a team we should have beaten. We just didn't come to play,'' he said. ``I think we left five or six runners in scoring position through the first four innings. We just didn't come through with the bats in crucial situations.

``It's rough. But the loss doesn't hurt as bad as the fact I won't be seeing these kids every day anymore. Some I've had for four years, and I feel bad about that.''

The softball team figured to have at least a puncher's chance to beat just about anyone, based on the presence of pitcher Christina Ross, who is among California's top left-handers. But Ross, who entered with an 0.16 ERA, was rocked for three earned runs in the fifth inning as Rosary took a two-run lead, and Valencia (22-8) failed to rally.

--USC football coach Pete Carroll spent Tuesday afternoon at Hart High to watch spring practice. According to Hart coach Mike Herrington, there are five Hart players who have sparked Carroll's interest: receiver/defensive backs Evan Surratt and Ryan Wolfe, and linemen Zac Zimmerman, Dusty Green and Joe Bernardi.

``It's just the first stage of the recruiting process. Pete came around because he wants to begin evaluating the top players,'' Herrington said.

UCLA coach Karl Dorrell also was at Hart recently. His visit ends recurring speculation about Dorrell coach being banned from recruiting on the Hart campus after former Hart quarterback Matt Moore's surprising departure from UCLA before the end of last season, followed by the postseason firing of UCLA assistant coach Gary Bernardi, Joe's father.

--One of the region's most intriguing football prospects is Valencia High defensive back Virgil Hill Jr. His father, boxer Virgil Hill, is the former world light heavyweight champion, and his mother, Danean Howard, is a former international track standout who finished sixth in the women's 400 meters at the 1988 Olympics.

Hill, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound freshman, is trying out as a varsity defensive back even though he has never played football.

``Virgil has some serious bloodlines plus a lot of raw talent and great speed,'' coach Brian Stiman said. ``He's extremely fast. You can tell he has tremendous ability even though he's never played before.''

--College of the Canyons softball infielder Nicole Delfino and pitcher Jessica Bailey, both former Hart standouts, earned JC All-State honors. Teammate Danyale Peterson, formerly of Valencia, earned All-Southern California recognition.

Among the team's other honorees are outfielders Meaghan Flaherty and Ashlee Nava and pitcher Cassandra Shires, who join Delfino, Bailey and Peterson on the All-Western State Conference first team.