AREA HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK / BASEBALL

Hart pitcher Jamie Shields, rated 16th among the nation’s high school prospects by Baseball America magazine, has received medical clearance to play and is expected in the lineup next week.

The 6-foot-3 senior has not played this season because of a pulled muscle in his lower back, but he began throwing in practice last week.

Shields’ return coincides with the Babe Herman tournament. Hart (10-2, 5-0 in the Foothill League) plays Hoover on Monday and La Habra next Tuesday.

“I’m excited to come back,” said Shields, who was 11-0 last year and helped Hart win the Southern Section Division II title. “I’ve just been dying sitting on the bench.”

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Looks like Highland is no longer feeling low.

The Bulldogs ended a season-long offensive slump by scoring 59 runs in their last five games.

In a three-game stretch against Golden League foes Littlerock and Lancaster, the Bulldogs raised their team batting average from .228 to .307.

“I’m relieved that our bats finally came alive,” Coach Mike Van Cheri said.

Highland (9-3, 5-1) leads Palmdale (8-3, 4-1)by a half-game. The teams play April 12 at Highland and April 14 at Palmdale.

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It’s tough to top the game Jeremy Gonzales played last week.

The Village Christian senior threw a no-hitter and hit a grand slam in a 16-0 victory over Whitney that was halted in the fifth inning because of the 10-run rule.

Gonzales (4-0) struck out 14 of 18 batters.

“I think they really hit the ball only twice the whole time, and those were little dribblers down the right side,” Coach Brian Gibson said.

Gonzales also had a run-scoring single for Village Christian (6-3). He is batting .455 with 14 RBIs.