Speidel on Sideline for Palmdale

Coach Gene Speidel of Palmdale High was expected to return home Wednesday after undergoing gall bladder surgery.

Speidel, who had the surgery Friday, missed Palmdale’s games last week in the San Bernardino tournament and is expected to miss the High Desert Classic this weekend, Athletic Director Garry Phelps said.

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Littlerock is hoping to play its first on-campus softball game soon.

A backstop was recently installed on a field adjacent to the football stadium and infield dirt was scheduled for delivery on Tuesday.

A two-year plan includes dugouts and outfield and foul-line fencing.

“When that is done, we hope to have one of the nicest facilities in the area,” Athletic Director Jim Bauer said.

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There haven’t been many highlights so far for Antelope Valley (1-4), which sometimes features three freshmen and three sophomores in its starting lineup.

But Amanda Mathias, an All-Golden League selection last season as a freshman, is batting .545, and freshman shortstop Krystal Alfaro is batting .308.

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It was no coincidence Hart was idle during a week in which Washington and Arizona were playing a tournament at Cal State Fullerton.

“The girls asked me how come we have no games,” Coach Cathy Giordano of Hart said. “I told them it was because Jeanine and Nicole are playing at Fullerton.”

Jeanine and Nicole Giordano, former All-Valley players from Saugus and Cathy’s daughters, ended up playing each other on Sunday for the tournament championship.

Jeanine’s Washington Huskies defeated Nicole’s Arizona Wildcats, 6-1.