SAN MARCOS —— Vanessa Perez not only is learning a new outfield position, but also a new spot in the batting order.

With a 4-for-4 performance at the plate Friday afternoon in Mission HIlls High's 4-0 softball victory over La Costa Canyon in the North County Tournament, it looks as if the freshman has learned a lot.

This victory capped a three-win week for the Grizzlies (9-3). They defeated Vista and Carlsbad before the Mavericks (8-6-1). Their only setback came against Westview.

"When I saw the week, I wondered who was watching out for us,” said Mission Hills coach Leonard Gann. "I thought we had a chance to win all four, but we also had a chance to lose all four.”

Not the way sophomore Whitney Orellana is pitching and Perez is hitting.

Orellana needed 87 pitches to finish off a two-hitter in which she struck out eight and walked none. At one point she retired 11 straight Mavs before yielding a triple to Diana Donati in the sixth inning. But Donati was picked off rounding third base to end the inning.

Orellana recorded a first-pitch strike to 17 of the 22 batters she faced to go to 9-3.

"She's so consistent,” said Gann. "She'll keep us in every game this year.”

So will the bat of Perez. She has adjusted well to high school ball, batting leadoff and playing the outfield after being a middle infielder in youth leagues.

"She and the other freshman, Sarah Vlahos, just had to be on varsity," Gann said. "That was obvious after the first offseason workout. Vanessa has started off half our games with a hit this year.”

Perez singled her first time up, singled and scored in the third inning and then tripled and scored in the fourth inning.

When she came up in the sixth inning, she needed a break when her foul pop-up was not caught behind the plate. She lined the next pitch to right for a 4-for-4 game.

"I've never 4-for-4 anywhere,” Perez said. "They want me to take more pitches, and sometimes that drives me nuts.”

No other hitter for either team had more than one hit.

"Our defense was lousy,” said La Costa Canyon coach Mike Hill, whose club had two errors but could have been guilty of four more. "Plain and simple, we stunk.”

Vlahos scored the Grizzlies' first run on an error in the second inning. Stephanie Frasca's single was lost in the sun for a run, and Maddy Hall singled in the second run of the third inning.

Holly Russell's single in the fourth inning drove in Perez with the final run.

Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or tmonahan@nctimes.com.

Ian Woosnam will have to wait until next week's Masters to make his first appearance of 2005 in the United States.

Woosnam, the 1991 Masters champion, was scheduled to make his first start at the BellSouth Classic in Duluth, Ga., but withdrew Friday after the opening round was delayed a second day because of rain.

After Thursday's opening round was washed out, the rain fell at the TPC at Sugarloaf again Friday, postponing the first round until today.

"It's very difficult," said Woosnam, Europe's Ryder Cup captain for 2006. "You tend to get very stiff sitting around just waiting.

Woosnam didn't give a reason for dropping out, but had complained recently of back problems.

Four other players withdrew Friday. They included Stuart Appleby, ranked No. 13 in the world, Chris DeMarco, ranked No. 15, Steve Flesch and David Peoples. Peoples is the only one of the five not in the field for the Masters.

Appleby and Flesch each cited sciatica problems. DeMarco and Peoples did not give a reason.

Players do not have to give a reason immediately, but have to notify the PGA Tour commissioner within 14 days, explaining why they dropped out.

"Every year I look forward to this time. That's why I play this week to try to get myself into a bit of better shape going into Augusta," Woosnam said earlier.

"It's a place I absolutely love and adore. I've missed the cut the last couple of years. It would be nice to make the cut and hopefully challenge some way or other."

Weather has affected eight of the 14 tournaments on tour so far this year. The BellSouth will run until Monday, a move that will prevent some of the Masters entrants from practicing in Augusta on Monday.

PGA Tour official Slugger White said the tournament would not go into Tuesday.

That won't be a problem for Rancho Santa Fe's Phil Mickelson, who is playing here to sharpen his game before defending his lone major title.

"I'm scheduled to take Monday off," said Mickelson, who played a practice round at Augusta, Ga., on Tuesday.

The weather is expected to clear up by the weekend, but the forecast today is for cool temperatures in the low 50s with winds 20 to 30 mph. The forecast for Sunday and Monday is for warmer weather with less wind.

White said the goal is to play 18 holes today and Sunday and 36 on Monday. The 36-hole cut will be the lowest 60 players and ties instead of the usual 70 and ties.

"Our main objective is (to get) 72 holes completed. Now it won't be Sunday, but it will be Monday," he said. "Our best scenario is 72 holes Monday. Our next best would be 54 on Monday."

Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, the top three players in the world, are skipping the BellSouth to focus on the Masters.

The BellSouth field also includes defending champion Zach Johnson, Retief Goosen and Stewart Cink.