CARDINAL CONNECTION

* Maureen LeCocq made a name for herself as a dominating pitcher at Chaminade High. In her first year at Stanford, LeCocq is wearing different hats.

And they look pretty good on her.

LeCocq, the Gatorade national high school player of the year last season, has appeared in 49 of Stanford’s 50 games. She has split time between second base, designated player and pitcher.

She is batting .263 with one home run and 29 runs batted in.

While half of the Cardinal pitching decisions belong to freshman Dana Sorensen of San Diego Scripps Ranch, LeCocq ranks second with a 1.15 earned-run average and 6-3 record.

In 79 innings, the right-hander has allowed 55 hits, struck out 28 and walked 26.

* Ramona Shelburne, a former jill-of-all-trades at El Camino Real, settled into her junior season at Stanford with a new role: full-time starter.

Shelburne, who started only 12 games as a sophomore, is Stanford’s right fielder. She recently was elevated to leadoff hitter.

Shelburne, a catcher her senior year with the Conquistadores, is batting .242 and has made only one error in 28 chances.

“She has a lot of heart and works extremely hard,” Coach John Rittman said. “Ramona is someone you want to go to war with. She’s a tough kid.”