HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PREVIEW : El Camino Real Casts Shadow : Powerhouse: The Conquistadore story promises more glory with Coach Ludlow.

In the intensely competitive, increasingly high-profile world of high school athletics, Coach Neils Ludlow is an anomaly.

Ludlow is the unlikely and unsung leader of the El Camino Real High softball team, one of the greatest juggernauts in City Section history. The Conquistadores have won six 4-A Division championships in the past seven years and have reached the 4-A final every year since 1982.

From 1983-87, El Camino Real owned the state’s longest softball winning streak, a fabulous run of 73 consecutive games during which Karen Walker (UCLA) and Beth Silverman (Arizona) helped establish the Woodland Hills school as a prime source for Division I college material.

And the beat goes on.

The Conquistadores (23-2 last season), led by senior pitcher Chrissy Peck, last year’s 4-A Player of the Year, are stockpiled with talent, ready to begin their quest for a third consecutive City title.

Yet despite the team’s fearsome reputation Ludlow, contrary to the image of a hollering, win-at-all-costs ogre, rules El Camino Real with fists unclenched.

Ludlow, 50, oversees El Camino Real in a tranquil, almost grandfatherly fashion. It is almost as if Ludlow, who holds a master’s degree from Pepperdine in education administration, is just along for the ride.

“I just fill my role,” he says.

Ludlow is reluctant--in fact, he flatly refuses-- to accept plaudits for the team’s success.

“Don’t give too much credit to me,” Ludlow says. “A lot of times in life, you find yourself in the right place at the right time. I’m a firm believer in that.”

After transferring from Parkman Junior High in 1985, Ludlow, a mathematics instructor, agreed to take command largely because of a shortage of coaches.

Ludlow, who had coached for only a few years in church leagues, was reluctant to believe that under his guidance El Camino Real, already a two-time defending City champion, would continue to dominate.

“I didn’t know what anyone expected,” he said. “I thought we would do the best we could possibly do.”

This season, with Peck and fellow All-West Valley League players Cathy Balint (shortstop) and Alisha Knopf (second base), and senior All-City catcher Jenny Fleming, the Conquistadores should do fine. In fact, a ninth consecutive league title seems imminent.

Peck, 64-13 in three seasons (she transferred from Bel-Air Prep after her sophomore year), was 22-2 last season and batted .571. She pitched a one-hitter in the title game to defeat San Pedro, 1-0. College recruiters are waiting in the wings.

Ludlow shaped his team with the assistance of Gary Torgeson, who has coached Cal State Northridge to four National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division II titles since 1983. From Torgeson, Ludlow learned the concept of “little ball”--a bunt single here, a stolen base there, a squeeze play here equals a slew of victories.

When pressed, Ludlow allows himself a dab of due. But not much.

“I feel I really do my part,” he said. “I like to think I’m organized. I like to think I’m competitive. But no way do I want to assume credit for what’s going on.”

Other area programs to watch:

CITY SECTION

* Sylmar (East Valley League)--The Spartans (13-2 last season) will rely on sophomore right-handers Ruby Gonzalez and Krystina Moore to replace Deann Wright, now at CSUN.

“I came in thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, where am I going to find a pitcher?’ ” Coach Chuck Miller said. “Then I found two.”

Seniors Missy Herrera (third base) and Wendy Alcantar (shortstop) batted better than .400 last year. So did senior center fielder Irene Aguilar.

* Kennedy (North Valley League)--Kennedy, which lost to Banning in the 4-A quarterfinals last year, might have met the Conquistadores in last season’s final had right-hander Sabrina Davis (15-3) not been lifted in the fifth inning against Banning because of the flu. Kennedy lost, 5-2.

Davis, a senior, returns. Third baseman Maria Fujarte is the only other returning senior.

Junior Cathy Miyahira (right field) returns. Newcomers include senior second baseman Flavia Fleischer and senior outfielder Alecia Verdugo.

* Poly (East Valley League)--Poly reached the 3-A Division semifinal last season, finishing 19-1 after losing to South Gate, the eventual champion.

Three players return: senior right-hander Jodi Soto (13-1, 0.96 ERA), a two-time All-City selection; senior all-league second baseman Tracy Bell; and junior catcher Kristie Faehnle.

SOUTHERN SECTION

* Hart (Foothill League)--The Indians (29-2), who reached the 4-A quarterfinal last year, rate as the best Southern Section team in the Valley, and senior right-hander Kym Weil ranks as the area’s premier pitcher.

Weil was 25-2 last season with 299 strikeouts and a 0.12 ERA in 178 innings. She also pitched 15 shutouts and surrendered only three earned runs. Not surprisingly, she has received scholarship offers from several colleges, including UC Santa Barbara, Oregon, Arizona and Hawaii.

Senior catcher Stephanie Keeler (.349, two home runs) has attracted the interest of Hawaii, Oregon, Long Beach State and CSUN.

Other returnees include junior shortstop Krissy Carpenter (.243), who was 4-0 with a 0.93 ERA as Weil’s backup. Sophomore designated-hitter Jamie Dean batted a team-high .402 with a school-record 37 hits.

* Thousand Oaks (Marmonte League)--The Lancers (25-6), two-time defending league champions, have six returning players but some will switch positions.

Trisha Gregoire moves from third base to catcher, and Amy Chellevold moves from left field to first base. Both were All-Southern Section 5-A selections as juniors.

Junior Erikka Gulbranson moves from right field to second base. Senior Lisa Stoddard, a reserve last season, will start at third base and also will serve as a relief pitcher.

Four-year starter Phronsie Franco returns at shortstop. Senior right-hander Alicia Zinner has improved markedly.

* Simi Valley (Marmonte League)--The Pioneers have finished second in league play three consecutive years and they’re tired of it, Coach Suzanne Manlet said.

“We’re shooting for first place,” she said.

That’s a lofty goal considering that all-league pitcher Chrissy Oliver (10-6) has moved on to Oklahoma State.

But 6-foot-1 junior Heather Santiago (11-2 last season) is a capable replacement. Returning infielders Taina Tande (shortstop) and Amy Powell (second base), both sophomores, give the Pioneers strength up the middle.

* Notre Dame (San Fernando Valley League)--Right-hander Becca Berline (17-9 last season), the league MVP the past two years, and catcher Simona Errico form a four-year battery.

Berline is 53-19 in her career. Errico was the most powerful hitter for the Knights (17-10 last season), who reached the 2-A semifinals last season.

Four other players return: Senior center fielder Kim Fischer (all-league) and juniors shortstop Vivian Carballo, first baseman Karen Erickson and right fielder Karen Ljubetico.

* Alemany (San Fernando Valley League)--The Indians, who finished second last season with a 7-3 mark (16-10 overall), have 11 returning players.

Sophomore second baseman Krista Gomez hit six home runs to set a school record for a freshman. Catcher Patti Seresi, also a sophomore, hit three home runs and junior first baseman-designated-hitter Brenda Garcia hit two. Alemany hit 18 home runs last year.

* Agoura (Frontier League)--Agoura (23-2), the defending 1-A with a 20-game winning streak, will be competing next season in the Marmonte League--a leap to the 5-A level.

Junior right-hander Melissa Thatcher, entering her third varsity season, was 23-2 last season with 156 strikeouts and a 0.63 earned-run average in 178 innings.

* La Reina (Tri-Valley League)--La Reina, which reached the 1-A quarterfinals last season, has more returning starters than any other team in the league--and three pitchers from which to choose.

Senior right-hander Sherri Sisco, the league’s most valuable player as a sophomore, was hobbled by a foot injury most of last season. Freshman right-hander Michelle St. Pierre has been impressive.