SOFTBALL BEAT : UP IN ARMS.

Byline: - Vincent Bonsignore and Gerry Gittelson

Ace pitcher Amanda Wachsmuth is hurting from a hip flexor that has kept her out of the circle for Paraclete's first three games, but the Spirits (2-1) are riding high behind replacements Sara Gonzales and Lauren McDonald.

Gonzales, a freshman with a big-time youth-league reputation, beat Antelope Valley 8-1 on Monday. She allowed five hits - Kelly Bleyl's home run was her first earned run of the season - and struck out 15.

Gonzales was almost as good in an opening 2-1 loss to defending Division II champion Quartz Hill, matching pitches against Daily News Player of the Year Jodie Cox. Gonzales allowed seven hits and struck out 10 but was done in by six errors and two unearned runs.

McDonald, a junior, shut out Pasadena Westridge 4-0 on two hits. She struck out 12.

Meanwhile, Wachsmuth, 12-4 last year to lead the Spirits to the Division V semifinals, is scheduled to start today against Mission League power Alemany. Game time is 3:15 p.m. at Lancaster City Park.

``I honestly have no clue how my back is going to feel until I started warming up,'' Wachsmuth said. ``I think Sara is doing great, but I want my chance to prove myself. I want to get better. Sitting on the bench injured is not the way I want to spend my whole softball season.''

Alemany is the latest in a line of talented nonleague opponents for Paraclete, now in the Alpha League after switching from the High Desert.

``Everyone on our teams knows how good we are, so we don't get intimidated,'' Gonzales said.

Rookie woes

New Hart softball coach Cathy Giordano is learning as she's going along. On Saturday, when it looked as if the Indians were headed to extra innings against Westlake in the Hart tournament final, Giordano had to borrow a tournament game program to figure out if the international tie-breaker rules would apply to the championship game.

They did.

``Even for the final?'' Giordano asked a tournament official. ``Well, that's a rule we'll have to change next year.''

Giordano, who replaced Al Weil over the summer when Weil was forced out under sketchy circumstances, is doing an admirable job in a difficult situation. The Indians are 5-1 after losing to the Warriors 3-1 - in an international tie-breaker.

Falcon Crest

Crescenta Valley has lost three games, but don't be deceived. The Falcons have lost to power programs Thousand Oaks, Chaminade and Peninsula.

``It's not like we lost to the Sisters of the Poor,'' Crescenta Valley coach Dan Berry joked.

It didn't help the Falcons played without second baseman Danielle Proctor, whose ability to reach base in front of Melinda Moulden fuels Crescenta Valley's offense.

Moulden, one of the top power hitters in the area, is losing out on RBI chances without Proctor, who should be back in April after recovering from an ACL strain.

``Without Danielle in the lineup we have to kick, scratch and claw for runs,'' Berry said. ``Last year, Danielle would get on and Melinda would crank (a big hit).''

When Proctor returns, the Falcons will have three of the top players around at their positions in her, Moulden (3B/P) and sophomore pitcher Meredith Cervenka.

Packing a punch

Physically pitchers look completely different, but the box scores look the same. Shutouts had become routine at Boron High, thanks to Summer Richardson, who had 50 wins - 24 no-hitters - in her career that ended one year ago.

Lithe Jennifer Jenkins, at 5-foot-9 and 135 pounds a bit more than half Richardson's size, is proving a brilliant replacement.

Jenkins ran her scoreless streak to 28 innings Saturday when she twice shut out Barstow in a doubleheader. The wins came on the heels of a 4-0 no-hitter over Hesperia Christian and a 3-0 win over Mojave. Jenkins, a junior right-hander, has yielded nine hits in four games.

``Things are going good,'' Jenkins said. ``I am actually just following the advice Summer Richardson gave me last year. She always said just not to get down. She kind of kept the team together.''

Jenkins said the fact that Boron has 200 students and Barstow has 2,000 was never a factor Saturday.

``We were both good teams, but I was expecting to do well,'' said Jenkins, who gave up two hits in the first game and three in the second.

Jenkins was 2 for 3 with one RBI in the second game. She batted .276 with 20 RBI last year, a good hitter just like Richardson was. But Jenkins and Richardson (now at Cal State Northridge) are opposites in their pitching approach, coach Mick Van Horn said.

``They are totally different,'' Van Horn said. ``Jennifer relies much more on pitching location. She hits her spots and does not walk anyone.''

Center fielder Tricia Ballinger, one of two senior starters, said the team ``just has to field a little bit more.''

Boron has won at least 20 games four straight years.

``We have a pretty good team,'' Ballinger said. ``If we work together we can be just as good as we were before. Jennifer Jenkins is doing really great.''

Blondes have more fun dept.

Coach Kristi Speir of Antelope Valley High has promised her team she will bleach her hair blonde if and when the Antelopes top last year's win total of four.

The girls already are halfway there after beating Rosamond 17-3 and Victor Valley 3-1.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

(Records through Tuesday)

Team Record

1. Westlake 6-0

Surprise, surprise.

2. Thousand Oaks 6-0

Big bats make the difference.

3. Hart 4-1

Had chances to beat Westlake.

4. Quartz Hill 5-1

It's not just Jodie Cox

5. Newbury Park 3-1

How good is the Marmonte League?

6. Chaminade 1-3

LeCocq dominates in first game back.

7. Crescenta Valley 3-3

Not 100 percent yet.

8. Camarillo 2-0

Big DH against T.O. Wednesday.

9. Simi Valley  6-0

Got back loss to Chaminade on a forfeit.

10. Highland 3-2

Will be better when they're healthy.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO Monroe's Colette Chisolm slides safely under the tag of Taft catcher Stephanie Ortiz during a City Section game Monday at Monroe.

Tom Mendoza/Daily News