SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK: HART, SAUGUS SET FOR BIG CHALLENGE.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Hart High, coming off a victory in the Hart Classic tournament, competes starting today in the 40-team Ramada Express Best of the West softball tournament in Bullhead City, Ariz.

Many of the top-ranked teams in the nation are participating, so the Bullhead City event figures to be a good measuring stick for a Hart team that's 4-0 but still finding its footing with new starters in most key positions.

Hart opens against Chaparral of Phoenix. If the Indians win two in a row, they could meet Foothill League rival Saugus. Of course, that means Saugus would have to win two in a row as well, and doing so will be difficult because the Centurions (4-2) would have to get past Foothill of Santa Ana (ranked No. 2 in California).

``It's going to be a very good tournament,'' Hart coach Cathy Giordano said.

Saugus is without injured Jaclyn Holden, an Amateur Softball Association All-American while playing for the California Cruisers, the ASA tournament national runnerup. Holden, a catcher who hit five home runs last year, is recovering from hand surgery and is not scheduled to return for at least two more weeks. Christina Gillman has picked up the slack, batting .442 with five RBI, two of them game-winners.

``Right now, Christina is just a great clutch hitter,'' Saugus coach Rich Perez said.

Saugus took its lumps at Bullhead City last year. This season, Perez said the goal is for the Centurions to earn respectability and gain experience against high-caliber opposition.

``It's just a real competitive tournament. I think almost every team that's from Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico is either a state champion or a runnerup.''

--S.C. Christian names coach - finally: Santa Clartia Christian postponed its first two games because the school couldn't find a softball coach. Finally, staffer Darcy Brown was named coach and the Cardinals open the season this afternoon against Bethel Christian at Lancaster City Park.

--Gonzales on the go: For Paraclete to return to the Southern Section Division IV final this season, pitcher Sara Gonzales figured to be the one who would have carry the Spirits.

But Wisconsin-bound Gonzales, who won 23 games with six no-hitters as a junior last year, has been struggling with both the flu and a sore arm. She's appeared in just three games and the Spirits are 3-2, including a surprising 7-1 loss at Division VI Pasadena Poly on Tuesday. Gonzales, finally over the flu, was scheduled to be the starting pitcher against Pasadena Poly but had to pull out after feeling tightness during warmups.

``She's got nerve damage in her arm and she's gone to the doctor twice this week,'' coach Margaret Neill said Wednesday. ``I'd rather her (be) out now (rather) than later.''

Things won't get easier for Paraclete. The Spirits play host to annual power Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks at 4 p.m. today at Lancaster City Park.

--Add Paraclete: The Spirits have switched home fields from Jane Reynolds Park to Lancaster City Park, significant because they had been using Jane Reynolds for at least 15 years, according to Neill.

``The City has been asking us to come there for a long time because we were the only school still using Jane Reynolds,'' Neill said.

--Lancaster hot: Lancaster is off to an impressive start under first-year coach Dean Johnson. The Eagles are 7-3, including a second-place finish at the Bakersfield tournament last weekend.

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(color -- ran in AV edition only) SARA GONZALES

Paraclete's senior standout pitcher has been slow to shape up to last year's form because of the flu and a sore arm. She won 23 and had six U no-hitters last season.