AT A GLANCE

THE PROVEN: There’s one reason Quartz Hill opponents pale in comparison. Her name is Jodie Cox. A left-handed pitcher who is also among the best hitters in the region returns along with nearly the same Rebel squad that won the Southern Section Division II title last season. . . . Although its pitching is suspect, Newbury Park will win 20 to 25 games and the Marmonte League this season because of its explosive offense. Junior Oli Keohohou, who batted .516 with 24 hits for extra bases last season, is foremost among eight returning starters. . . Highland is another team that returns the bulk of its hard-hitting lineup. The Bulldogs will still have trouble with Golden League rival Quartz Hill, but will routinely beat up on the rest of the bunch. . . No team is blessed with a deeper pitching rotation than Crescenta Valley. With sophomore Meredith Cervenka and senior Melinda Moulden, the Falcons are a cinch to win the Pacific League. . . Chaminade has ace Maureen LeCocq. Enough said. Any team that can muster six hits off the right-hander wins. . . Thousand Oaks has been a contender even in years after marquee players move on to college. This year will be no different. Five starters return and the Lancers will be on Newbury Park’s heals. . . La Reina, perennial Tri-Valley League champion, lost only three times in 28 games last year but stumbled early in the playoffs. Junior catcher Mackenzie Vandergeest, who hit .512 last year, returns for her junior season. . . Camarillo is a perennially strong program, but the Scorpions couldn’t have picked a better time to move into the Pacific View League. For the first time since former coach Darwin Tolzin took over in 1991, Camarillo is without big-time players. Still, the Scorpions have excellent pitching with twins Kathryn and Meredith Nevard. . . El Camino Real, annually a City Section title contender, returns nearly the entire team that finished runner-up to San Pedro last year. Participation in the competitive Hart and Thousand Oaks tournaments will show where the Conquistadores stand among top teams from the region. . . Simi Valley lost leadership when Lori Tande and Dawn Carifi graduated. Now it’s time for junior pitching ace Brittney Green to set the pace. . . Paraclete is the best of the region’s small schools. Amanda Wachsmuth, whose hitting and pitching led the Spirits to a semifinal appearance, returns.

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THE PROMISING: With the addition of freshman pitcher Elena Ferrero, Harvard-Westlake is already burdened by high expectations. Ferrero pitched the Southern California Stealth to a 12-and-under national title two years ago, but is she seasoned enough to derail LeCocq and Chaminade for the Mission League title? . . Hoover was tripped up by injuries early last season and never recovered. Seven starters return, including right-hander Cori Herbert, to challenge Crescenta Valley for the Pacific League title. . . Westlake always seems to have top players, but the Warriors have had three consecutive disappointing seasons. Former Cal State Northridge star Barbara Jordan, in her first season as a high school coach, would like to change all that. . . Rio Mesa, Channel League champion last year, will have much stiffer competition--from Camarillo--in the new Pacific View League. . . With the returning battery of Amy Rosson and Sara Hall--and Moorpark moving to the Marmonte League--Calabasas is the favorite in the Frontier League. . . The Foothill League title is up for grabs, but Valencia has the inside track over Hart. The Vikings finished third last season and lost only one starter.