Schuster’s Versatility, Determination Aid East : Softball: Broken finger forced Canyon slugger to new position, not out of the lineup.

Cyna Schuster, a senior shortstop on the Canyon High softball team, almost had to miss a month of the season because of a fractured finger. Instead, she reached a compromise with her coach to play as the team’s first baseman.

Playing the duration of Golden League play with the injury, Schuster did not commit an error in 10 games. She finished the season with a team-leading 17 runs batted in and five home runs and was named to the all-league first team for the second year in a row.

Schuster, who accepted a softball scholarship at the University of Hawaii--for which she expects to play mostly as an outfielder--also might play several positions for the East team this afternoon in the Daily News All-Star game at Cal State Northridge at 2:15.

Canyon’s Greg Hayes and Roy Romero of La Canada will coach the East. Neils Ludlow, who led El Camino Real to its sixth City Section 4-A Division title in seven years this season, and Darwin Tolzin, who led Camarillo to the Southern Section 5-A Division title, will coach the West.

The East will feature Debbie Meyer of Quartz Hill, the Golden League’s most valuable player. Kelley Bannon of Camarillo, the Marmonte League MVP, heads the West.

Jana Kovar of Village Christian (10-4, 1.21 earned-run average) will start for the East. Heather Santiago of Simi Valley (5-2, 0.89 ERA) or Sophie Sobol (13-8, 0.54 ERA) of Newbury Park are expected to start for the West.