TAKING A PEEK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

A new year is upon us, and here are some things bound to happen in the local sporting horizon:

--For the first time in years, the key issue within Hart High football circles won't be a potential return to the Southern Section championship game. Instead, the early focus will be a torrid competition between Robbie Moore and Tyler Lyon for the starting quarterback position. Both have excellent bloodlines and have proven themselves as top-level junior varsity passers.

Moore, who will be a senior, is the brother of former Hart star and ex- UCLA starting quarterback Matt Moore. The younger Moore was Sean Norton's backup this past season, and he had six interceptions as a starting safety. Lyon, at 6-foot-3, will be a junior. He's the only son of College of the Canyons coach Chuck Lyon and he's three inches taller than Moore.

--The Valencia High baseball team, led by pitcher/outfielders Matt Aidem and Jared Clark, will develop into the greatest all-around squad in Foothill League history. Nearly every key starter returns from last year's group, which won 23 games and advanced to the Southern Section Div. II semifinals.

--The competition in the Foothill League will be tougher than usual for Hart High's boys' basketball team. But challenges from Valencia, Saugus, Canyon and Burroughs - all capable of beating one another (and Hart) on any given night - will strengthen Hart sufficiently enough to make a deep playoff run. That's never happened before during coach Tom Kelly's tenure.

--Fans of girls' basketball will be in for a treat when Hart and Valencia meet because the matchup between Hart star Ashlee Trebilcock and Valencia's high-scoring Kelley Tarver will be irresistible.

--Another great matchup will happen in boys' basketball competition when Hart's Adam Rich and Saugus' B.J. Willkomm go head to head. Fans won't want to turn their heads away for a second because to do so might mean missing something spectacular.

--Bolstered by the return of standout quarterback Stephen Mercier and talented running back Orlandi Pena, Santa Clarita Christian High will win its first Southern Section eight-man football championship - avenging an embarrassing 48-0 loss at Riverside Christian in last year's final.

--Valencia High's football team, led by returning quarterback Michael Herrick, will have its best chance ever to beat Hart for the first time. It's still not clear which team will win, but the game will come down to the final minute just like last year.

--Nobody will expect another 10-win season from Canyon High's football team because of the graduation of quarterback Nate Longshore, running back Louis Montano, receiver Sean Coen and linebacker Andrew Schantz - all of whom are among the best in school history. But senior Will Brogan will develop into a star during his first year as a full-time quarterback, And Montano's younger brother, Michael Montano, will rush for more than 1,000 yards as the new tailback, as Canyon will prove as competitive as ever.

--Christina Ross of Valencia High will be by far the region's dominant softball pitcher. During her first 10 starts, no opponent will total more than three hits in a game. But Valencia will need to find some fresh hitters if the team wants to advance past the third round of the playoffs - something that's never happened during longtime coach Donna Lee's tenure.

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Hart High basketball standout Ashlee Trebilcock is one of the many reasons to keep an eye on area sports in 2004.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer