GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE

* Ocean View: 17-11, 7-3 in 1998. Coach: Chris Gulla (first year). Prospects: Gulla’s sister was the league’s most valuable player last season. Senior shortstop Leah Gulla, who has signed with Oklahoma, batted .417 with 14 RBIs and was a second-team all-county selection. All-league pitcher Tia Jordan (12-4, 1.02 ERA) and second-team center fielder Jenee Cline, who batted .367 in league, are returning seniors. Catcher Nikki Barton and first baseman Jessica Carney were starters as freshmen last season, and outfielder Carly Hatcher rounds out the six returning starters. The Seahawks should be in a competitive mix for the league title with Rosary and Westminster.

* Rosary: 26-7, 10-0 in 1998. Coach: Tom Tice (sixth year, 103-41). Prospects: The Royals will try to take care of unfinished business after losing the Division IV final last season, 2-0, to Corona Santiago. There should be plenty of offense produced by the returning players: senior first baseman Erin Hogan (.444, 29 RBIs) and junior catcher Natalie Golda (.393, 18 RBIs) were first-team all-league selections; senior center fielder Tymarie Novak (.406, 22 stolen bases, 23 runs) and junior left fielder Samantha Jennings (.457, 14 RBIs) were second-team choices. Another starter, junior designated hitter Danielle Guerra, batted .286. Two seniors, second baseman Suzanne Lieber (.320) and utility player Erin Kennedy (.321), came off the bench last season. Left-handed Mallory Anderson (6-0, 0.13 ERA) and right-handed Christa Arriaga (5-1, 0.80), both sophomores, try to replace the graduated Christy Ledford (15-6, 0.44). The only real question mark facing the Royals is their ability to replace losses at second base, shortstop and third base.

* Saddleback: 0-14, 0-10 in 1998. Coach: Homer Martinez (first year). Prospects: The Roadrunners are still rebuilding. They have four pitchers, but all are freshmen; Denise Guzman is likely to emerge as the No. 1 starter. Saddleback will be counting on senior first baseman/shortstop Elisa Hernandez, junior catcher Jannet Gonzalez and sophomore center fielder Arianna Warren to provide much of the offense for a team that returns seven starters. Middle infielder Sandra Mendoza, a four-year letterman, will provide some much-needed leadership.

* Santa Ana: 10-14, 2-8 in 1998. Coach: Glenn Mitchell (10th year, 41-159). Prospects: The Saints, hoping to squeeze into third place this season, have seven starters back, including three seniors: left fielder Lorena Soto (a second-team all-league selection), center fielder Claudia Soto, and pitcher Lori Morales. Davina Gonzalez, a corner infielder, and shortstop Belinda Garcia--both juniors--and sophomore catcher Michelle Paz also return to the starting lineup. Sophomore shortstop Vanessa Bernal, a first-team all-league layer, batted .408 and scored 17 runs.

* Tustin: 9-13-1, 4-6 in 1998. Coach: Erin Gallagher (first year). Prospects: The Tillers return three players who earned first-team all-league honors: sophomore catcher Ashlee Cappucci, junior third baseman Mayra Vazquez and senior first baseman Brook Brown. Two others, both sophomores, were second-team choices: shortstop Melissa Simelink and pitcher Melody Reff. Solid pitching and defense should keep Tustin competitive in the league.

* Westminster: 12-10, 7-3 in 1998. Coach: Conway deSha (fourth year, 50-25-1). Prospects: Nine starters are back from last season. Lacy Hauxhurst (.360) moves from catcher to shortstop, complementing another first-team all-league infielder, second baseman Jennifer Reinig (.370). Pitcher Ashley Maranto (4-2, 1.48 ERA), a second-team selection, and Tina Tuskewicz (8-8, 1.49) should make the Lions contenders. All are seniors.