SMALL SCHOOLS

* Capistrano Valley Christian: 10-7, 5-3 in 1998. Coach: Delmar Fralick (second year, 10-7). Prospects: The Eagles finished second in the Academy League and were beaten in a first-round playoff game by Express League champion Norwalk Pioneer Baptist, 10-3. The Eagles will try to improve on that with seven returning starters, none seniors. Junior pitcher Lauren Capriotti (.568, 19 runs, 28 RBIs) and Amanda Frankovich (.563, 20 runs, 20 RBIs) had the county’s highest batting averages. Junior catcher Cari Fouse was also a first-team all-league player.

* Connelly: 0-11, 0-7 in 1998. Coach: Pat Alderson (first year). Prospects: Junior first baseman Teresa McNamara and sophomore outfielder Diana Delgadillo should get some help from three newcomers, freshman middle infielder Jackie Applegate, sophomore third baseman/outfielder Lupita Ramos and catcher Ghia Farahmand.

* Fairmont: 2-10, 1-6 in 1998. Coach: Jale McBrain (first year). Prospects: The Huskies have nine returning players on their young Academy League team. Senior catcher Missy Lucia (.420) made the all-league first team and junior utility player Bobby Jean Norris was a second-team selection. Senior shortstop Crystal Page (.250) also returns. Freshman pitcher Melissa Raab should have a big impact on the Flames’ fortunes.

* Heritage Christian: 3-13, 2-8 in 1998. Coach: Max Miller (first year). Prospects: The Patriots took fifth in the Express League. Heritage’s strength is its sophomore middle infield: second baseman Ali Dye and shortstop Tiffany Diebold were second-team all-league selections last year as freshmen. Center fielder Luz Heredia and third baseman Iona Lupas, both juniors, also return.

* Liberty Christian: 12-7, 8-2 in 1998. Coach: Armando Fernandez (second year, 12-7). Prospects: The Minutemen, the second-place team in the Express League, return the league’s most valuable player, senior shortstop Tiffany Potter. She is joined by a couple of all-league players, junior catcher/first baseman Tristan Fernandez and junior first baseman/pitcher Crissy Davis. Junior third baseman Felicia Jao is also among the Minutemen’s nine returning starters, who might be bolstered by the arrival of a strong freshman pitcher, Danielle Mershon.

* Orangewood Academy: No team in 1998. Coach: Jay Emery (first year). Prospects: After not fielding a team last season, the Spartans will play a five-game freelance schedule to gauge interest in the program, according to Athletic Director Carey Bell.

* St. Margaret’s: 19-2, 8-0 in 1998. Coach: Nancy Linaweaver (fifth year, 66-21). Prospects: Twins Abbey and Amber Arnold are gone, which means the Tartans will be rebuilding without the league’s two best players. The only senior, first baseman Mindy Kozel, is joined by sophomore utility Jenny Zuidema (.306, 45 stolen bases), sophomore pitcher Monique Kettler (.394), junior third baseman Katie Massrey (.323) and junior second baseman Annie Blumberg (.266).

* Southern California Christian: 18-5, 11-1 in 1998. Coach: Paul Kushner (fourth year, 50-12). Prospects: The Flames move to the tougher Academy League after winning the Arrowhead title. SCC returns several key players first-team all-Division VI pitcher Delci Huntley (.460), a senior; sophomore catcher Bethany Brown (.478) junior infielder/catcher Morgan DeJovine (.346), junior second baseman Jesse Lova (.288) and junior third baseman Tara Long (.277).