PREP PLAYOFFS: A PLEASANT SURPRISE : KNIGHTS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN EXPECTED.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer

Even in Dustin Schramm's wildest baseball dreams, he never thought he'd see this. Not this team, not this year.

It seemed that Schramm, one of Desert Christian's few experienced players, would have to wait at least one more year for the Knights to finally capture their first Desert Mountain League championship or win their first-ever playoff game.

Well, Schramm can go right ahead and pinch himself.

The junior right-hander, who was 11-1 with a 1.00 earned run average in the regular season and is 2-0 with one save in three playoff games for the second-seeded Knights (24-1) - takes the mound at 3:15 p.m. against L.A. Baptist (17-6) in the Southern Section Division V semifinals.

And, as if that isn't exciting enough, the game will be played at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, the home of the Single-A JetHawks.

``I did not expect this. It's a dream come true,'' Schramm said. ``I'm really excited. I just hope we can keep winning because this has been a lot of fun. It's been a wonderful season. To play at the Hangar is amazing.''

Schramm, 25-6 over the last two seasons, has played a pivotal role in the Knights' playoff run. He beat Aquinas 7-6 and Downey Calvary Chapel 17-7 and then recorded his first save in Friday's 8-5 victory at Temecula Linfield.

Phil Parker's 3-run home run in the seventh inning broke a 5-5 tie against Linfield. Freshman Jim Espisito had a 3-run homer in the first.

``We've got a young team, but we're doing an amazing job,'' Schramm said. ``Our team has been going out there and hitting the ball. We just want to keep on doing our job.''

Eighth-seeded L.A. Baptist of North Hills qualified for the playoffs after finishing third in the Alpha League. L.A.B., whose nickname also is the Knights, beat Viewpoint 12-0, Crossroads 8-3 and Arrowhead Christian 7-6.

SOFTBALL

Jennifer Jenkins is the latest in a line of hugely successful softball pitchers at Boron High.

However, she has a good chance to bring the school its first-ever championship, something illustrious predecessors Summer Richardson (1995-98) and Lindsay Dugan (1993-96) never could.

Jenkins has pitched every inning for the top-seeded Bobcats (23-0), who host No. 4-seeded Victor Valley Christian (21-9) at 3:15 p.m. today in the Division VI semifinals.

The 5-foot-9 junior right-hander has yielded just one earned run in 134 innings (0.05 ERA) with 184 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .111 against her.

``I'm feeling good. I think we can do this and make it all the way,'' Jenkins said. ``We have a pretty good team and everybody has their heart in winning.

Desert Mountain League-champion Boron beat Avalon 13-5 on Catalina Island on Friday. Agape League champion Victor Valley Christian qualified with a 7-3 victory at Pioneer Baptist in Norwalk.

A victory over Victor Valley would mean a matchup against either Cornerstone Christian or Capistrano Valley Christian on Friday or Saturday at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

``I've heard Victor Valley Christian is a pretty decent ballteam, but I don't know much about them,'' Boron coach Mick Van Horn said. ``Sometimes it's better that way, to just go in there and take it inning by inning.''