GOLDEN LEAGUE

Palmdale, which tied Antelope Valley for the league title last season, has six starters back, including first baseman J.J. Rosati, who led the league with a .506 average and 14 doubles. All-league shortstop Jason Gorman (.392) and outfielder Alex Suarez (.417) also return. Sophomore Matt Harrington, whose fastball has been clocked at 90 mph, is the ace of the staff. . . . Highland has two of its top three hitters back in Travis Hodge (.452) and Shaun Gerstl (.378). Hodge is also one of the premier pitchers in the league. . . . Quartz Hill figures to have a top pitching staff, led by Travis Allen and Brady Robbins. Allen, a junior, earned all-league honors as a freshman but sat out most of the league season last year with a broken hand. Robbins was 3-1 with a 0.88 ERA. The Rebel offense will be led by first baseman Ryan West, who batted .468 last season and has three home runs in four games this season. . . . Antelope Valley must replace Sean Douglass and Jeremy Holiday, two of the region’s top pitchers last year. The Antelopes still have plenty of hitting in shortstop Chris Wurster (.341) and outfielder Mike Seward (.329, five doubles). . . . Only three starters return for Littlerock, which finished 1-11 in league play. Second baseman Jimmy Combs batted .386 with seven doubles. . . . Lancaster, entering its first season at the varsity level, hopes to be competitive behind the bats of Francisco Rosado and Eric Sundberg.