SOUTH COAST LEAGUE

* Capistrano Valley: 15-11, 3-7 in 1998. Coach: Joe LaMasa (second year, 15-11). Prospects: The team grade-point average is 3.63 but only time will tell if that translates into smart softball. Six starters are back, including pitcher/outfielder Jillian Miles (11-6, 0.81 ERA; .318 batting average) and second baseman Melissa Hara (.345), both juniors. Hara is a three-year starter, same as catcher Carly Dilbeck. Pitcher/utility player Kristen Mullen and shortstop Jen Cohen, both four-year starters, will be joined by another senior getting a chance to play every day, outfielder Elisa Mraz.

* Dana Hills: 11-13, 5-5 in 1998. Coach: Margo Melendrez (third year, 20-28). Prospects: The Dolphins appear primed to make a run at second place. Loren Thornburg (11-7) was a first-team all-league pitcher. Third baseman Kiana Bessa (.350) had 20 stolen bases, shortstop Gen King (.273, .443 on-base average) struck out only four times, second baseman Nicole Lev is a solid defender. Catcher Elizabeth Lefler provides some power at the plate. They are among eight seniors whose experience might provide a further edge. Two sophomore outfielders, Carrie Bales and Brittany Anzlovar also return to the starting lineup.

* Mater Dei: 30-3, 10-0 in 1998. Coach: Ed Ulloa (first year). Prospects: Ulloa comes with a career record of 190-64 (.748) at Upland, where his teams won two section titles the last four seasons and reached the finals another time. Junior Tia Bollinger (17-1, 0.23) and senior Marissa Young (13-2, 0.07), Times’ all-county first-team players, provide the Monarchs with the county’s best pitching tandem, making them a favorite to successfully defend their Division I title. Young batted .264 with 15 RBIs. Her sister, Jessica Young, batted .281. Senior third baseman Ruby Rojas (.219) will play this summer for the Venezuelan Junior Olympic team in China, and the national team in the Pan-American Games qualifier in Venezuela. Junior outfielder Courtney Betley (.222) rounds out the four returning starters. Six freshmen are expected to make solid contributions.

* Mission Viejo: 2-20, 1-9 in 1998. Coach: Patty Kleinschmidt/Denise Kuhns-Ochoa (second year, 2-20). Prospects: The only teams in the league with fewer returning starters (five) than Mission Viejo are Mater Dei and Trabuco Hills, which puts the Diablos’ task in perspective. Their work is cut out for them. Seniors Nicki Marian, a pitcher/first baseman, and Kristy Halagarda, a second baseman, lead the five, which include juniors Ashley Fricks (pitcher/first baseman), Krista Lara (third baseman/second baseman), and sophomore Kelly Graham (catcher).

* San Clemente: 13-14-1, 6-4 in 1998. Coach: Bill Everhart (fourth year, 51-56-1). Prospects: Junior Ashley Haight (7-8, 0.68), a second-team all-league pitcher, and senior Nikki Shanafelt (6-5, 0.65) are two reasons for optimism. They should provide a solid one-two punch. First-team all-league catcher Sasha Budde (.337) and Christie Bennett (.295) also return. All told, there are eight returning starters, and in this tough league, that’s good news.

* Trabuco Hills: 12-11-1, 5-5 in 1998. Coach: Robert Wiebort (first year). Prospects: The Mustangs’ upgraded facility provides an opportunity for its players to enjoy accelerated improvement. They’ll need as much acceleration as possible with only four returning starters and just one of them a senior, pitcher/first baseman Stephanie Walsh. Outfielder Haley Glover is the only other senior letterman. Seven freshmen figure to see considerable action, helping sophomore shortstop Ashley Griffiths, sophomore pitcher/third baseman Sarah Hernandez and junior outfielder Kendra Arrasmith. It could be a long, but productive, season.