Pitchers Are Golden Entering League Play

Most of the preseason attention in the Golden League has focused on Antelope Valley High pitchers Sean Douglass and Jeremy Holiday.

The seniors have put up impressive numbers in leading the Antelopes to a 5-1 start, but they are far from the only strong pitchers in the league.

Antelope Valley will play host to Quartz Hill and its ace, senior Mark Madsen, in a league opener at 3:15 p.m. today.

Madsen was one of the top sophomore pitchers in the region two years ago, but he was hampered by back problems last year and was sidelined most of the season.

However, this season Madsen has a 2-0 record and an 0.58 earned-run average. Before a doubleheader split against Victor Valley this week, the Rebels had given up only one earned run in four games while getting impressive pitching performances from sophomores Travis Allen and A.J. Ryan.

Antelope Valley today will start either Douglass, who is 2-0 with 15 strikeouts and has allowed six hits in 13 1/3 innings, or Holiday, who is 2-1 with two saves and 20 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings.