SOFTBALL BEAT CRUSADERS ON CRUISE CONTROL.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Led by the right-handed pitching of freshman Lauren Nydam and sophomore Jessica McIntosh, Village Christian of Sun Valley (12-0) is the region's only undefeated team.

Nydam, who went three innings with seven strikeouts in Tuesday's 8-0 nonleague victory over Providence, hasn't allowed an earned run in 44 innings. She's 7-0 with 74 strikeouts - an average of 11.8 per seven innings - with 10 hits allowed. McIntosh (4-0, 0.49 ERA) has 45 strikeouts in 28 innings.

The defending Alpha League co-champion Crusaders, who open league play at L.A. Baptist of North Hills this afternoon, haven't been bullying talentless opponents. Among their victories are shutouts over larger schools Glendale, Burroughs of Burbank, Rowland and Schurr of Montebello. Village Christian, which has outscored opponents 45-7, won the Duarte tournament three weeks ago.

This might be the first season in the school's 51-year history that Village Christian advances past the second round of the playoffs.

``We're on fire,'' first-year coach Jana Kovar said. ``The girls are just doing dynamite and they're playing as a team.''

Village Christian really will be rolling if it makes an impact at the high-powered Michelle Carew Classic in Anaheim, which begins Saturday. The four-day, 23-team tournament features many of Orange County's best teams, including traditional power Pacifica of Garden Grove, El Dorado of Placentia, Diamond Bar and Esperanza of Anaheim.

SO FAR, SO GOOD

Village Christian's season log:

Team Score

Western Christian 4-1

Glendale 2-0

Burroughs 1-0

Sierra Vista 12-0

Rowland 1-0

Azusa 5-4

Temple City 5-0

Faith Baptist 5-2

Schurr 1-0

Montclair Prep 1-0

Providence 8-0

KEEPING TABS

Stanford center fielder Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo), who led the nation with a .475 batting average as a sophomore last season, is continuing the pace. She's batting .441 with 11 home runs, 25 RBI and 19 stolen bases, carrying the Cardinal to a 32-3-1 record. ...

Illinois freshman right-hander Amanda Fortune (Hart of Newhall) was named Big Ten pitcher of the week after going 4-0 in the Buzz Classic in Murietta, Ga. She's 11-5 with a 1.04 ERA and five shutouts. ...

Mississippi freshman center fielder Kristi DiMarco (Palmdale/Antelope Valley College) is batting .256 with one home run, 14 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 16 attempts. ...

Colgate sophomore first baseman Melissa Rawson (Highland of Palmdale), recently named Patriot League player of the week, is Colgate's leading hitter. She's batting .397 with three home runs, 13 RBI and a .671 slugging percentage in 22 games. ``Melissa is a tremendous asset to our team,'' Colgate coach Vicki Sax said. ``Without a doubt, she's one of the supreme players in the Patriot League. We're very happy to have her. She's having a great season.'' ...

Emily Brower, one of the region's top right-handers for Burbank last year, accepted a scholarship to Chico State but left school before the season opener, according to sports information director Teresa Clements.

``There were some family matters and she left for personal reasons,'' Clements said. ``She was the top freshman on the team. They had big hopes for her.''

LONG TRIP

Valencia pitcher Tori Rocco travels to Santa Ana on Wednesdays for pitching lessons with Ernie Parker, who tutored UCLA and U.S. Olympic pitching star Lisa Fernandez.

``It's a long trip. It takes about 90 minutes, but that's our time together,'' said Gayle Rocco, Tori's mother.

TOUGH START

Harvard-Westlake of Studio City's 2-6 start means the Wolverines already have more losses than all of last season, when they finished 25-5.

``We graduated four four-year starters, we've had some injuries, and a couple of girls were busy playing basketball,'' coach Terry Ellege said.

Pitcher/first baseman Elena Ferrero, a returning All-Daily News selection, has been bothered by an ankle injury.

``Elena can hardly walk, but she's still batting .500,'' Ellege said.

Things figure to get better. Ferrero is only a junior, and next year Kristin Gallant, considered one of the San Fernando Valley's best eighth-grade pitchers, will enroll. Gallant led her travel team, the Southern California Spirit, to the Triple Crown national championship (16-under) in Colorado during the summer.

LEAGUE UPDATES

FOOTHILL Hart of Newhall (10-1) faces Orange County power Foothill (11-1) in the semifinals of the first Foothill Roundtable Invitational on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. at Hillview Continuation School, across the street from Foothill High in Santa Ana.

Foothill finished No. 1 in the nation in the USA Today poll last year, when it beat Hart twice.

``I can't complain. We're playing very well,'' Hart coach Cathy Giordano said. ``But to beat Foothill, we can't make any mistakes. We have good pitching - Casey Pickard will start - but we need to play errorless defense.''

Hart blanked Chaminade of West Hills 8-0 and Marina of Huntington Beach 2-0 in last Saturday's tournament action.

``They looked good. It should be a great game on Saturday,'' Foothill coach Joe Gonzales said.

GOLDEN

Former Lancaster pitcher Marciea Ball and former Palmdale third baseman Monique Saldana are working together as correspondents for the Antelope Valley Press. They're also playing softball for Antelope Valley College. ...

Quartz Hill shortstop Andrea Cabriales, a two-year starter in 1998 and 1999 who took a year off to concentrate on soccer, has quit the softball team, co-coach Coy Ray said. ``She's pursuing other interests,'' he said.

DELPHIC

At 4-foot-10, Campbell Hall of Studio City catcher Lauren Grossman isn't the biggest target in the world, but she's batting .333 and isn't afraid of runners trying to plow her over at the plate.

``Everyone asks me if I'm worried about getting run over, but I'm not,'' Grossman said. ``I've been catching since the sixth grade.''

Mark Grossman, her father, recalls a collision during summer ball between her daughter and ``a really big girl.''

``The big one wound up with a sprained ankle,'' the elder Grossman recalled. ``Lauren holds her ground and plays tough. She doesn't give an inch.''

WEST VALLEY

Chatsworth catcher Melissa Freeark, who injured her thumb on a foul tip three weeks ago, wasn't expected to be sidelined more than a few days. But she won't be coming back this season, said coach Brian Rooney, who has moved junior shortstop Rebecca McIntyre to catcher. ``Rebecca stepped in and she's been just unbelievable. She's a great catcher.'' Rooney said.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

No. Team Record

1. Crescenta Valley 9-1

2. Hart 10-1

3. Thousand Oaks 10-1

4. Notre Dame 8-3

5. Valencia 12-2

6. Paraclete 11-2

7. Newbury Park 10-4

8. Royal 10-4

9. Chaminade 2-4-1

10. Highland 7-5

SEVEN-DAY FORECAST

Game of the week

Moorpark at Thousand Oaks, today, 3:30 p.m. Thousand Oaks (10-1, 5-0) has won five consecutive games since a loss to Hart of Newhall in the Hart Classic final March 10. Moorpark (8-6, 4-1), coming off Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Agoura, can tie Thousand Oaks for first in the Marmonte League. Watch for a tight pitching duel between right-handers Nicole Angelo of Thousand Oaks and Tara Barker of Moorpark.

Potential hero

Jaclyn Holden, Saugus. Holden, a junior, is the region's hottest hitter, and she looks to continue her success against Newbury Park in Saturday's semifinal of the Daily News Victory Spring Classic at Hjelte Sports Center in Encino. Holden was 5 for 5 with two homers, two triples and a double in two pool-play victories Saturday.

Bound to happen

Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks' Mission League matchup with Chaminade of West Hills this afternoon will be called on account of darkness. Right-handers Amanda De La Cerda of Notre Dame and Christina Lupacchini of Chaminade will battle to a 23-inning scoreless tie.

DAILY NEWS VICTORY SPRING CLASSIC SEMIFINALS

Saturday, at Hjelte Sports Center, Encino

Semifinals

Gold Bracket

Crescenta Valley vs. Notre Dame, 9 a.m.

Saugus vs. Newbury Park, 11 a.m.

Silver Bracket

Sylmar vs. Westlake, 9 a.m.

La Canada vs. Verdugo Hills, 11 a.m.

Bronze Bracket

Faith Baptist vs. El Camino Real, 9 a.m.

Kennedy vs. Calabasas, 11 a.m.

Copper Bracket

Chatsworth vs. San Fernando, 9 a.m.

Granada Hills vs. Taft, 11 a.m.

Consolation finals, 1:30 p.m.; Championships, 3:30 p.m.

CAPTION(S):

photo, 4 boxes

Photo:

Megan Ivey and Saugus will be playing in the gold Bracket at the Daily News Invitational on Saturday.

Tina Burch/Daily News

Box: (1) SO FAR, SO GOOD (see text)

(2) DAILY NEWS TOP 10 (see text)

(3) SEVEN-DAY FORECAST (see text)

(4) DAILY NEWS VICTORY SPRING CLASSIC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT (see text)