THE HIGH SCHOOLS / KENNEDY COSGROVE : Pulled Muscle Put Scare Into Worley, Scouts

Quartz Hill High pitcher Roger Worley received a double jolt when he unleashed a hard fastball Tuesday against Antelope Valley.

The senior right-hander felt a sharp pain in his elbow and his fingers started tingling, and he was immediately removed.

But the most pain was mental.

“It scared me so bad,” Worley said. “I’ve heard so many stories about guys blowing out their arm on one pitch.”

Worley has more to worry about than most high school players, because the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder is probably the area’s top professional prospect.

His dream of pitching professionally was suddenly jeopardized by that sharp pain in his elbow, but fortunately, Worley’s fears proved groundless. His doctor diagnosed his condition as only a slight pull of his triceps muscle.

“I was so relieved when the doctor said I had just pulled my triceps,” he said. “I was like, ‘Thank you. ‘ “

Worley has thrown without pain in recent days, which is good news for him, and for the 15 scouts he estimated have inquired about his health.

“They’ve all been calling my house, asking me, ‘How’s your arm?’ ” Worley said. “I’ve even sent a doctor’s report to some of them.”

The scrutiny is something Worley has grown accustomed this season. After a relatively nondescript junior year (“I only pitched against the weaker teams in our league,” he says), he added about 25 pounds to his frame and eight miles an hour to his fastball.

He showcased both when he played in a scout league last fall. Worley, with his new and improved fastball, suddenly was a hot topic of baseball conversation in the Antelope Valley.

“He became kind of the buzzword up here,” Coach Mike Nielson said.

The buzz drones on. Nielson estimates that at least six scouts are on hand each time Worley pitches.

“My teammates joke about it with me,” Worley said. “They make comments like, ‘All your buddies are coming,’ stuff like that.”

They will be watching extra closely Tuesday, when Worley is scheduled to pitch against Littlerock. And if he is unaffected by the injury, scouts will continue to like what they see.

Worley has consistently been clocked in the mid-to-high 80s this season, and both he and Nielson say he has hit 93 m.p.h.

“He has progressed along real well,” Nielson said. “We talked about him becoming mentally tough, and I think he’s handled the pressure well.”

He certainly has faced different expectations than he did a year ago.

“It’s like night and day,” he said. “At the beginning of this season, I was real nervous. It’s a lot of pressure, but I usually pitch better under pressure. I know I have to do a good job.”

And he has, building a 4-1 record with 58 strikeouts in 38 innings, with an earned-run average of 1.27.

His performance has helped put the Rebels (9-7, 4-3 in league play) in the thick of the Golden League race, and has positioned him to be a top selection in the coming amateur draft.

Worley has been told he could go anywhere in the top three rounds, and scouts have mentioned him as a possible late first-round selection.

Whatever round he is drafted, Worley plans on signing. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do,” he said.

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Two recent coaching changes have taken place at Royal. Girls’ soccer Coach Monte Berna resigned and was replaced by Andy Silva, who coached the Simi Valley boys’ team from 1980-93. Silva was a boys’ assistant at Royal last season. Less settled is the girls’ basketball team. Coach Paula Getty-Shear was asked to resign.

Getty-Shear coached Royal for six seasons and the team’s 14-9 record last season was the best in her tenure. “It’s a real bummer,” she said. “I’m not sure why they wanted me to resign.”

Royal Athletic Director Terry Dobbins said the school would like to name a new coach within two weeks.

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Recruiting update: Granada Hills volleyball player Mike DiSimone, an All-City Section 4-A Division pick last season, should sign with a college by the end of the month. The 6-5 senior outside hitter is considering San Diego State, Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge.

* Palmdale soccer player Mike Dibbini, an All-Southern Section Division III selection who scored 88 goals the past two seasons, said he likely will play for Northridge or Minnesota, with the Golden Gophers having the inside track.

* Northridge could land another local soccer star, Burroughs’ Roberto Perez, who said he is waiting for an offer.