SOFTBALL BEAT : QUICK IMPACT.

Byline: - Compiled by Vincent Bonsignore, Jim Inghram, Gerry Gittelson

Sara Dean is making the transition from winter to spring sports look too easy.

Dean, a sophomore at Hart, missed the first four games of the softball season because she was with the soccer team, which reached the Southern Section championship game. But after starting the last four games for the Indians, the catcher/center fielder is batting .429, with two doubles and one home run.

In a 9-0 win against University (San Diego) in the second game of the Fountain Valley tournament Saturday, Dean drove in seven runs, giving her nine on the season.

``She's on fire right now,'' said Hart coach Cathy Giordano. ``Even in a 2-1 loss to Marina (in the first game), she scored our run. She led off with a double and scored on a passed ball. I'm glad to have her back.''

Giordano thought it would take Dean some time to make the adjustment from soccer to softball.

``I'm real surprised that she came around that quickly,'' Giordano said.

Normally, Dean splits time behind the plate. But since she has shown such offensive prowess, Giordano has had to keep her in the lineup.

``With a hot bat, there's no splitting time for that kid,'' Giordano said. ``She's got a gun (in the outfield). It just hasn't been tested yet.''

Credibility? Earned!

Some Marmonte League observers made the mistake of dismissing Westlake's fast start after the Warriors were throttled by Newbury Park 6-0 in the teams' league opener on March 23.

The Warriors consequently were eager to play their next game, scheduled for last Thursday. But rain postponed it, and the team had to wait a week.

Tuesday the Warriors, behind a strong pitching performance from Erin Voeltz (13 strikeouts) and an offensive outburst that yielded 10 hits, defeated Thousand Oaks 4-1.

Thousand Oaks, along with Newbury Park and Simi Valley, was expected to be among the league's top teams; Westlake has moved in with the elite.

``After that loss we worked really hard in practice,'' said junior shortstop Kaitlyn Wilson. ``We had to come back and show we're a good team.''

They did. The Warriors (7-1, 1-1) played solid defense, moved runners over and got clutch hitting. Three of their runs were scored with two out.

``The girls on this team practice hard, come to play and they come to win,'' said first-year coach Barbara Jordan, who has to receive some of the credit for the Warriors' turnaround from a dismal 1998, along with assistant Michelle McAnanay.

Credit also goes to the talented infield of Wilson, Annie Domenic (third base), Katie Kearns (second base), Katie Reifman (first base) and catcher Angela Funk.

Freshman center fielder Tiffany Meadows has added some zip to the top of the lineup and covers a tremendous amount of ground in the outfield.

Finally, some good luck

All Chaminade was looking for was a little bit of luck. After losing five of six games and settling for a tie in another, the Eagles felt they were due.

So when the first three batters reached base to start a scoreless seventh inning against Paraclete on Tuesday, fourth batter Lindsey Weinstein figured now was the time good fortune would shine on Chaminade.

``We've been so unlucky this year, and we definitely needed something good to finally happen.''

It did. Weinstein hit a bloop single just over the Spirits third baseman to drive in Meghan Holbrook, giving the Eagles a 1-0 win.

Chaminade had managed to get the leadoff batter on base in five of the previous six previous innings. The Eagles had a runner aboard in each inning but just couldn't push a run across against Paraclete starter Sara Gonzales.

``I started thinking maybe the same thing would happen like it did in some of our other games,'' Weinstein said. ``When it was 0-0 in the third, then 0-0 in the fourth and 0-0 in the sixth, you start to think about stuff like that. But this is an awsome team with a lot of heart. If we just work hard, we'l`l be fine.''

Quite a combination

Ashley Redlin has pitched the majority of El Camino Real's 11 games and 77 innings. And with an 0.80 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 44 innings and a 5-2 record, she has been impressive.

But right behind her is junior right-hander Stephanie Frasco, who has even more impressive numbers.

Frasco is 4-0, has struck out 26 in 26 innings and walked only four. She also hasn't allowed an earned run - or any run, for that matter.

She is one of five pitchers in the region with that distinction and one of only two (Meredith Nevard of Camarillo) not to have allowed an earned run.

The one-two punch is a big reason the Conquistadores are favored for another City Section title.

Atypical leadoff hitter 

Jodie Cox of Quartz Hill, one of the region's most dangerous power hitters who hit nine over-the-fence home runs last year, is batting leadoff - an early experiment that has worked well enough to become permanent. Cox clubbed two homers and drove in six runs in Tuesday's 6-0 win over Valencia as the defending Division II champion Rebels improved to 9-1.

Cox batted third last season, but co-coach Coy Ray wanted Cox to have as many at-bats as possible. Plus, he likes the one-two punch of Cox and No. 2 hitter Kellie Cox, Jodie's sophomore sister who is batting .500.

Jodie Cox, who has signed with Cal State Fullerton, is batting .463 with six home runs and 14 RBI in 41 at-bats. After winning 23 games and striking out 247 one year ago, she is 12-1 with a 0.65 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 75-2/3 innings.

Kelly can

Antelope Valley (6-3) entered the season with nine wins over the last two years, but the team has improved vastly behind pitcher Kelly Bleyl.

Bleyl led the Antelopes to three shutout wins in four High Desert Classic games, allowing 15 hits in 29 innings with 35 strikeouts. Antelope Valley lost its last game 3-2 in eight innings to Garfield, which scored twice in the seventh and once in the eighth to come back. Bleyl gave up five hits and struck out 11.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

(Records through Monday)

Team Record

1. Camarillo 8-1

Didn't bring bats against Fountain Valley.

2. Newbury Park 9-1

Keohohou batting .542.

3. Quartz Hill 13-1

We don't always want to mention Cox but . . .

4. Westlake 7-1

Thousand Oaks now believes.

5. Hart 8-2-1

Swept La Reina Tuesday in DH.

6. Thousand Oaks 7-3

League race will be a dogfight.

7. Simi Valley 8-0

Quietly awaiting their turn.

8. Chaminade 2-5-1

Once hitting comes around, watch out.

9. Crescenta Valley  7-4

Talk about some tough losses to good teams.

10. Highland 9-4

Gonzales out for the year.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Camarillo High's Nicki Holt, left, tags Thousand Oaks runner Alix LeBrecque.

Andy Holzman/Daily News