HART'S VITEK HEADED UP NORTH STAR SOFTBALL INFIELDER COMMITS TO OREGON.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

Hart High's Kaitlin Vitek, one of the Foothill League's top returning softball infielders, has committed to Oregon, joining a growing group of local softball players expected to sign NCAA Division I scholarships next month during the early signing period.

``Kaitlin is a very smart player who can play multiple positions, and she hits with power,'' Hart coach Steve Calendo said.

As a junior, Vitek hit two home runs, followed by a solid summer travel season.

Hart teammate Caitlyn Stiglich recently committed to Fresno State, and teammate Paige Pointkowsky could be headed to Biola College of La Mirada, an NAIA school.

Hart, Valencia and Saugus now have multiple players who have committed -- not including Canyon's Jenna McGivney (Miami, Ohio) -- and the total number could eventually reach a dozen or more.

``It's amazing, isn't it?'' Calendo said. ``You have to go back five or six years when there were close to this many D-I players in the same class, but I think this year's group is the largest ever from the Foothill League.''

from reconstructive knee surgery in time for the season, and the good news is she's well on her way after blowing out her ACL in late August during basketball practice for Hart's JV team.

``She's wearing this big brace, but she's already starting to throw, which is amazing,'' Calendo said. ``It's kind of surprising. She's a hard worker, and she's really pressing herself in therapy.''

Rodino, a sophomore, is considered the league's brightest young star after going 11-8 with a 0.34 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 163 innings in her first season.

The Hart-Valencia football rivalry heats up again Friday at 7 p.m. at Valencia, and this time there are playoff implications because Hart (3-4, 0-1) can all but clinch a berth -- and eliminate Valencia (2-6, 1-1) from contention.

``We need this win,'' said Hart coach Mike Herrington, whose team was idle last week following a 41-25 loss to Canyon on Oct. 13 in a rematch of last year's Southern Section Div. II final.

Hart had defeated Valencia 11 consecutive times before Valencia's 29-10 victory in 2004 broke Hart's 65-game league winning streak. Hart leads the series 12-1 after a last-second 17-14 victory last year.

In the aftermath's of Saugus' milestone 36-21 football victory Friday over Valencia, coach Jason Bornn called it the biggest win of his four-year career.

``I've been getting e-mails and phone calls from people I haven't heard from in 10 years,'' Bornn said. ``The interesting part is there are actually people out there paying attention.''

Saugus (4-3, 1-0) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory Friday over Golden Valley (0-7, 0-2), combined with a Hart victory over Valencia.

Keep on eye on Hart baseball pitcher Mike Montgomery. His fastball is up to 87 mph, and that's a high level for a junior left-hander.

No one should be able to touch Hart's pitching staff this season. Montgomery was 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA as a sophomore, and classmate Casey McCarthy was 3-3 with a 2.87 ERA. Plus, Donny Williams, who was expected to be the team's top pitcher last year, is back after missing nearly all of last season because of a hand injury. And Trevor Bauer, an ace on Hart's frosh team last season, is a major talent, along with freshman Josh Wagner, son of prominent local private coach Jim Wagner.

More Hart news? Steve Hubbell is the new track coach, replacing four-year veteran Jeff Gilkey, who has moved out of state.