SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK: STIGLICH KNOWS IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE HART CATCHER WANTS TO IMPRESS RECRUITERS.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

Caitlin Stiglich will begin her junior year at Hart High on Aug. 15, but she's already starting to think about college.

Because of a trend in softball players giving early commitments during their junior year, Stiglich knows her performance at the 18-under Gold nationals, which run Monday through Aug. 14 in Salinas, could have a impact on where she will go to college.

``It's weird,'' she said. ``But people are definitely committing earlier. I'm still a year away, so I shouldn't have too much pressure yet. But I know people will be watching how I do.''

Stiglich is the starting catcher for the 18-under Gold Batbusters, coached by Tyrone Davis. She said she's been receiving recruiting letters this summer but expects them to come more often this fall.

Still, the pressure to perform is beginning for Stiglich.

``I just try to play to my best ability and hope someone notices,'' she said. ``When you're playing, you can't think of who's watching you. But after the game I look around to see who's there. If I played bad, I'm like, 'Hopefully, no one was there to see that.' And if I played good, I look around to see which schools were there to notice.''

Other area players who will be competing at the 18-under Gold nationals next week are: Breanne Javier (Valencia/Southern California Diamonds), Whitney Lowe (Valencia/Southern California Diamonds), Tiffany Huff (Saugus/Orange County Batbusters), Shayne Lotito (Vasquez/Valley Breeze), Alyssa Ishibashi (Valencia/Valley Breeze), Jordan Taylor (Valencia/Gordon's Panthers) and Ashley Arnett (Saugus/Southern California Vipers).

--Rare opportunity: Softball players in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys have a rare opportunity next week, when Monica Abbott, an All-American pitcher from the University of Tennessee and starter on the U.S. national team, will be a featured instructor at the Sports Depot Fastpitch Softball Clinic at the Lancaster Big 8 Softball Complex Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Abbott is among several college players attending the clinic.

Other instructors include Tennessee infielder and former Valencia High player Kortney Bell, Valencia High pitcher and future Hawaii pitcher Courtney Baughman, Southeastern Conference All-Freshman catcher and former Highland High standout Shannon Doepking, Mt. SAC outfielder and former Littlerock High player Tori Beaudette, Cal State Fullerton infielder and former Quartz Hill High star Monica Tantlinger, Simi Valley High infielder and future Syracuse University player Nicole Miller Spellman, and Danielle Maricle (Valencia/Orange County Batbusters).

Abbott, Doepking and Bell helped lead Tennessee to the Women's College World Series for the first time in school history last spring. Abbott, who is from Salinas, has spent the summer pitching for the U.S. national team. She's scheduled to return from Japan on Sunday.

For more information, contact Littlerock softball coach Sarah Adams at [phone] or [phone], Ext. 282. Her e-mail is sadams(at)avhs.org.

``I am very excited to have the opportunity to bring Monica, Shannon and Kortney to help out these girls,'' Adams said. ``They are both awesome players, and great people to work with. It's not every day you have a player from the USA team at your clinic. We have some good talent coming to help, and we are lucky for that. I just hope this area takes advantage of the opportunity.''

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com