SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK; BIG VICTORY FOR LANCASTER.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Sometimes it pays to be lucky and good at the same time. Just ask Lancaster High's Tara Jensen, whose short pop-up Tuesday against Quartz Hill fell in for a three-run double and propelled the Eagles to a surprising 9-7 victory.

It was Quartz Hill's first Golden League loss in two years. It also lifted the Eagles into a first-place tie with Quartz Hill and Highland.

Jensen, who briefly transferred to Quartz Hill in the fall before returning to Lancaster, is batting .309 with a region-leading five home runs, 13 extra-base hits and a .782 slugging percentage.

She entered the Quartz Hill game with three home runs in the last four games, and she's batting .636 in league play.

--Add Quartz Hill: Quartz Hill co-coach Coy Ray was still scratching his head the morning after the Lancaster loss.

``I don't want to make it sound like we're whining,'' he said, ``but we made four errors in one inning. I've been here 13 years and haven't seen anything like that. I give Lancaster credit because they earned the win, but we played terrible.''

--Add Lancaster: By beating Quartz Hill, the Eagles did a nice job rebounding from the day before, when they were no-hit by Highland's Nicole Rawson and lost 4-0.

``Against Highland, we just couldn't hit the ball,'' Lancaster coach Kara Johnson said. ``I thought going in that playing Highland right before Quartz Hill could go either way for us and would either help us or hurt us. It helped because Nicky (Rawson) is a fastball pitcher and (Quartz Hill's Amanda) Ricker is fast too, and we hit her really hard. We had our timing.''

--Mickey Mouse excuse: The Antelope Valley is a long way from Disneyland, but Quartz Hill's Ricker says she can't get enough of the place.

``Going to Disneyland is my favorite thing to do,'' Ricker said. ``We get there really, really early so we don't have to wait in line all day. I went there last weekend and we did 18 rides.''

--Do or D'Errico: Highland's Ashlie D'Errico, whose team was coming off Thursday's emotional eight-inning 1-0 loss to Quartz Hill, said beating Lancaster on Monday was crucial.

``We had to win that game because it was really important,'' said D'Errico, who's batting .395 with two home runs and three doubles. ``I honestly think we did well against Quartz Hill, but we needed to get our confidence back. We can't afford any more losses from here on in.''

D'Errico, a junior, figures to be one of the region's most sought after catchers next year. She plans to take a business-like approach to recruiting: ``I plan on going on at least three trips. I really like Arizona, Washington, UCLA and Stanford, but I don't want to leave anyone out. Academics is important, but I'm gonna go wherever I get the best offer.''

--Twiddling their thumbs: It already feels like a long season for Bethel Christian, and not just because the Eagles are 1-12.

Because of rainouts, site problems and the school's annual senior trip to Washington, D.C., the girls haven't played since a loss to Joshua Springs on April 6 - and they won't play against until May 9, when they host Trona at Lancaster City Park.

That's more than a month off.

``Yes, it's sure a long time,'' coach John Haggerty said. ``Usually the senior trip doesn't cost us any games because we only have one or two seniors, but this year we have five.''

--On a roll: Desert Christian, in the midst of a three-game winning streak, is 7-6 (3-1 in Desert Mountain League) and already has surpassed last season's victory total.

Coach Devin Thomas credits shortstop Traci Schramm (sister of standout baseball pitcher Dustin) and freshman pitcher Amanda Wolfenstein. Schramm is batting .500 with nine RBI and 14 runs, and Wolfenstein is 6-6.

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Photo: Highland, led by (left to right) Ashlie D'Errico, Natalie Rawson and Nicole Rawson, are in a first-place tie with Lancaster and Quartz Hill.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer