After deliberating Thursday night and most of Friday, the Rio Hondo League decided to make official the Temple City and Monrovia high school baseball teams’ 4-4 tie that was halted in 10th inning due to lightning on Thursday.

The result had a ripple effect in the league standings and made La Canada the outright league champion with Monrovia second. It also gave San Marino the league’s automatic third-place playoff spot.

Trouble is, not everybody in the league felt the game should have ended in a tie given the fact that all five teams had either championship or playoff implications because of the result.

Both Temple City and Monrovia stood by on Friday in case they got word the game would be resumed. But after consulting with the CIF Southern Section office earlier in the day and further talks, the league upheld the tie because its own bylaws are unclear what to do in this event.

“Common sense would tell you that the game needs to be decided on the field,” said Monrovia co-head coach Brad Blackmore, whose team would have earned a share of the league championship with a win over Temple City.

“Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ve never heard in my life of any season ending with a tie in the last game of league with three playoff spots up for grabs and you have an open date the next day. Why would you not settle it on the field?

“There’s nothing in the bylaws either way. And once it gets to CIF, if the league hasn’t agreed on it, then you have no chance.”

Temple City blew leads of 3-0, 3-2 and 4-3 in Thursday’s game before Monrovia tied the game at 4-4. Then, a fluke lightning storm hit the area and the umpires suspended the game as a safety precaution.

Meanwhile, across town, San Marino edged La Canada, 3-2, to cause havoc in the standings.

League coaches left it in the hands of the athletic directors to reach a resolution to the quandary of whether Monrovia and Temple City should be allowed to resume. Some argued that without a unanimous vote, the league could not grandfather in a new rule where one didn’t exist or was unclear.

South Pasadena and Temple City will have to hope for at-large berths when pairings are announced on Monday.

M-Town and Muir may not be there for the West, but B-Mart certainly will be.

When: May 17, 7 p.m.
Where: West Covina HS

Organizers of next week’s Hall of Fame All-Star Game for the area’s top high school football seniors are hoping that moving up the date will result in a bigger crowd and an easier experience for players and coaches.

The crowd size remains to be seen, but one things for certain, the game will have stiff competition from the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section baseball playoffs slated to begin that same day.

“We’re trying to find a right and right place,” game organizer Leon Ward said Thursday. “You can’t wait too long for it because it’s hard to do it when the kids have already graduated and they’re gone. Talking to the coaches, they would rather do it the earlier the better.”

This year’s game will be played Friday, May 17 at West Covina with kickoff at 7 p.m. In previous years, the Hall of Fame Game was always been played in June or July after school had let out and the players graduated.

But with high school football now a year-around proposition, coaches who coach the all-star game often do so at the expense of spending time with their own teams during the now-crucial passing circuit.

Game organizers had considered moving the game even earlier in the school year than May, but ultimately settled on this year’s date. That hasn’t been as much of a problem for the East team as it has the West.

The West roster pools players from schools located west of the 605 Freeway. The top program in that area is Monrovia, which won’t have any players in this year’s game because May 17 is prom night.

Muir players invited to the game to play for the West declined because next weekend is track and field finals. San Marino players shunned their invite to concentrate on baseball.

“We thought it was going to work out fine,” Ward said. “The coaches were all in favor of it. For the last two or three years, that’s been on the agenda because of all the coaches asking us to move it up.

“We moved it up thinking we’d be okay. And for the most part, it’s been okay except that we got one bomb dropped on us last week when we found out the Monrovia kids had prom.”

The defections have left West head coach Joel Sanchez of El Monte scrambling to find replacements and keep his team together.

“They’re good kids and they’re working hard,” Joel Sanchez said. “It’s been tough getting everybody here together. When they’re all here, like yesterday, we have 43 (players).

“Just getting everybody here has been the tough part.”

High school football all-star games are no easy task to put together. Even the longstanding Shrine All-Star Game, which once filled the Los Angeles Coliseum with fans, folded due to poor crowd attendance and player participation.

The quandary for the Hall of Fame Game has always been player participation because much of the top local talent had already left to begin their college career by the time game night rolled around, or they did not want to risk injury by playing in the game.

Playing in the game, however, hasn’t stopped many former local greats from going on to prosperous careers. Blair’s Sean Smith and West Covina’s Walter Thurmond III played in the 2005 game and are now in the NFL.

The moved-up game date has actually helped the East roster lure a talented quartet from Charter Oak, which includes Colorado-bound receiver Bryce Bobo, who otherwise might not have played if the game was held in June or July like previous years.

Despite the logistical problems, Sanchez has been able to field a talented roster that’s led by Tribune Player of the Year Brandon Martinez of El Monte, who is hoping to quarterback the West to a win.

“People always think he looks good because of playing in our league, but he looks good out here,” Sanchez said. “He’s good and he’s looking good out here, so that’s a plus for us.”

WEST ROSTER

0 M. Matiarena 6″4 290 T Salesian
1 Wardell Barry 5’7 160 DB Pasadena
2 Albert Llamas 5″8 160 ss St. Paul
3 Brandon Martinez5’7 165 QB EL Monte
4 Peter Aholoka 5’9 165 RB Arroyo
5 Johhny Garcia 5’9 165 WR FS EL Rancho
6 Ruben Jimenez 5’10 195 LB EL Monte
7 Joey Sanchez 5’10 185 QB SS EL Rancho
8 S. San Miguel 6’0 175 WR DB Rosemead
9 Jake Holguin 6’3 205 WR Rio Hondo Prep
10 Lorenzo Mena 5’10 185 LB Gabrielino
11 Nick Downs 6’2 220 LB St. Paul
12 Josh Mendoza 5’11 175 QB Garfield
13 Gabriel Larios 6’0 160 WR San Gabriel
15 Ramon Sierra 6’4 285 DE Garfield
17 Jared Gonzelez 5’8 175 RB Cantwell
18 Ricardo Fonseca 5’9 175 WR SS Schurr
20 Jorge Reyes 5″10 165 FB LB St. Paul
21 Ivan Lezama 5’9 175 LB Schurr
22 Jesse Pina 6’0 220 FB DE Hoover
24 Roger Lemus 5’8 200 RB Lincoln
25 Austin Ford 5’11 205 LB Arcadia
26 Alex Saavedra 5’11 235 OL DL St. Paul
26 Pablo Ocegueda 5’10 165 FS South El Monte
27 Steven Barron 5’7 160 DB Don Bosco Tech
28 Abel Barajas 5’11 185 WR EL Monte
29 Torus Stepney 5’5 155 DB Pasadena
32 Ezra Broadus 5’7 170 RB CB Alhambra
33 Marcus Lewis 6’0 195 RB SS Duarte
34 Eric Alvarez 6’1 215 LB San Gabriel
43 Chris Reed 6’1 205 FB LB Temple City
44 Chris Mendoza 5’10 195 LB Bell Gardens
50 J. Betancourt 5’9 185 C DE Temple City
51 James Rivera 5’10 230 C T Arroyo
53 Chris Cavalero 6’2 250 OL NT Alhambra
55 Adrian Barrios 6’1 225 OL DE Arcadia
65 Flemming White 6’5 315 G Pasadena
67 Bryan Rodriguez 6’2 295 OL Montebello
74 Erwin Melesio 6’3 300 OL DL Linclon
77 Chris Vargas 6’1 245 T Bell Gardens
78 Nelson Leon 5’11 225 OL Rosemead
79 Corey Reaves 6’1 265 OL DL Verdugo Hills
81 Adolfo Sanchez 5’9 165 WR EL Monte
85 Richard Natividad 6’1 205 DE South El Monte

EAST ROSTER

1 Noel Martinez La Puente REC 6’1 165
2 Andy Sherwood Damien REC 5’7 165
3 Muleck Henderso West Covina DB 5’10 190
5 Bryce Bobo Charter Oak REC 6’3 195
6 Aaron Parham South Hills REC 6’1 210
7 Matt Simko Chino Hills QB 6’3 220
9 Jacob Farias South Hills DB 5’10 180
10 Jesus Arteaga Azusa DB 5’9 162
11 Kevin Amezquita Gladstone QB 6’1 180
14 Alex Arellano Chino WR
15 Josh Savage Damien WR 6’2 200
16 Brandt Davis Bonita K 6’0 180
17 Eric Ortiz Charter Oak LB 6’1 239
18 Bahlil Thompson Garey ATH 6’1 175
20 Reggie Turner Bonita RB 5’9 195
21 Aaron Vaughns Charter Oak RB 5’8 170
22 Aaron Sanchez Gladstone LB 5’8 205
23 Elvis Toscano Santa Fe DB 5’7 160
28 Khari Garcia Charter Oak DB 5’11 185
29 Cade Lindsay Glendora RB 5’10 160
34 Aaron Salgado West Covina RB 5’8 205
40 Terrance Manderville Nogales REC 6’2 190
42 Roy Torres Northview LB 5’11 220
43 Justin Buga San Dimas LB 5’11 191
44 Aaron Franklin West Covina DB 5’11 193
45 Eric Noyola Los Altos TE 5’11 215
50 Justin Tumer Covina LB 5’9 230
51 Noah Garcia Diamond Ranch OL 6 263
52 Mike Mora Sierra Vista LB
54 Elia Semu Covina OL 5’11 220
55 Jacob Hughes Whittier Chr. DL 6’3 220
57 Jacob Gamboa California OL 5’10 245
58 Tommy Green Glendora OL 6’3 280
60 Matthew Lopez Bishop Amat DL 6’0 245
61 DJ Theard Bonita OL 6’5 295
66 German Ponce California DL 5’11 260
72 Adrian Solchaga Gladstone OL 5’9 230
74 Dustin Sanford Sonora OL 6’3 260
77 Greg Lawton Rowland DL 5’10 175
79 Christian Lopez Gladstone OL 6’3 255
84 Adam Romero West Covina DL 6’1 190
87 Hunter Grap Don Lugo TE 6’5 220
90 Isaiah Osorio La Serna DL 6’0 245
92 Cody Walsh Chino DL 6’4 240

PHOTOS from Wednesday’s game

La Canada 3, San Marino 2 — Spartans earn at least a share of Rio Hondo League title and guarantee themselves as being the No. 1 rep from the RHL in next week’s D-4 playoffs. Amazing stuff considering that LC won JUST TWO league games last season. Anthony Mizrahi’s 3-run blast in the first inning proved to be the difference. Alex Bang got the win for LC. The teams will play again tomorrow with San Marino fighting for its playoff life and ace Jeff Bain on the bump. LC is likely to counter with lefty ace Justin Lewis.

0 M. Matiarena 6″4 290 T Salesian
1 Wardell Barry 5’7 160 DB Pasadena
2 Albert Llamas 5″8 160 ss St. Paul
3 Brandon Martinez5’7 165 QB EL Monte
4 Peter Aholoka 5’9 165 RB Arroyo
5 Johhny Garcia 5’9 165 WR FS EL Rancho
6 Ruben Jimenez 5’10 195 LB EL Monte
7 Joey Sanchez 5’10 185 QB SS EL Rancho
8 S. San Miguel 6’0 175 WR DB Rosemead
9 Jake Holguin 6’3 205 WR Rio Hondo Prep
10 Lorenzo Mena 5’10 185 LB Gabrielino
11 Nick Downs 6’2 220 LB St. Paul
12 Josh Mendoza 5’11 175 QB Garfield
13 Gabriel Larios 6’0 160 WR San Gabriel
15 Ramon Sierra 6’4 285 DE Garfield
17 Jared Gonzelez 5’8 175 RB Cantwell
18 Ricardo Fonseca 5’9 175 WR SS Schurr
20 Jorge Reyes 5″10 165 FB LB St. Paul
21 Ivan Lezama 5’9 175 LB Schurr
22 Jesse Pina 6’0 220 FB DE Hoover
24 Roger Lemus 5’8 200 RB Lincoln
25 Austin Ford 5’11 205 LB Arcadia
26 Alex Saavedra 5’11 235 OL DL St. Paul
26 Pablo Ocegueda 5’10 165 FS South El Monte
27 Steven Barron 5’7 160 DB Don Bosco Tech
28 Abel Barajas 5’11 185 WR EL Monte
29 Torus Stepney 5’5 155 DB Pasadena
32 Ezra Broadus 5’7 170 RB CB Alhambra
33 Marcus Lewis 6’0 195 RB SS Duarte
34 Eric Alvarez 6’1 215 LB San Gabriel
43 Chris Reed 6’1 205 FB LB Temple City
44 Chris Mendoza 5’10 195 LB Bell Gardens
50 J. Betancourt 5’9 185 C DE Temple City
51 James Rivera 5’10 230 C T Arroyo
53 Chris Cavalero 6’2 250 OL NT Alhambra
55 Adrian Barrios 6’1 225 OL DE Arcadia
65 Flemming White 6’5 315 G Pasadena
67 Bryan Rodriguez 6’2 295 OL Montebello
74 Erwin Melesio 6’3 300 OL DL Linclon
77 Chris Vargas 6’1 245 T Bell Gardens
78 Nelson Leon 5’11 225 OL Rosemead
79 Corey Reaves 6’1 265 OL DL Verdugo Hills
81 Adolfo Sanchez 5’9 165 WR EL Monte
85 Richard Natividad 6’1 205 DE South El Monte

Thursday’s Games

San Marino 3, Monrovia 1 — Titans ace Jeff Bain tossed a one-hitter and kept his team’s hopes for third place in the Rio Hondo League, and a guaranteed playoff spot, alive. Meanwhile, Monrovia’s league title hopes just took a big hit. The Wildcats will enter the final week a game behind first-place La Canada in the league standings … and the Spartans own the tiebreaker after taking two out of three from the Wildcats this spring.

South Pas 10, Temple City 3 — South Pas staved off third-place elimination. I have no deets, but the Tigers finished the regular season 11-13 overall and 5-7 in league.

Wednesday’s Results

Monrovia 5, San Marino 1 — Wildcats get one win closer to pulling even with La Canada in first place at 7-3 in league. Pitcher Chris Burkholder was fantastic and a three-run fifth inning blew the game open. San Marino got a decent start from Jeff Chan, but three errors did in the Titans.

Temple City 5, South Pas 1 — Rams frosh pitcher Zechariah Jarrard was filthy and got the win to put his team right in the thick of the race for third place and a guaranteed spot in the D-4 playoffs.

STAR-NEWS TOP 10

1. La Canada (12-6)
2. Monrovia (15-4)
3. Arcadia (16-6)
4. Alhambra (15-6)
5. Flintridge Prep (13-6)
6. Pasadena Poly (11-6)
7. Maranatha (10-10-1)
8. Pasadena (11-10)
9. Duarte (10-11)
10. San Marino (12-8-1)

CIF Polls

Division 4

1. Oaks Christian
2. Kaiser
3. Laguna Beach
4. Northview
5. Sonora
6. San Dimas
7. Baldwin Park
8. Montclair
9. Nogales
10. Don Lugo

Others:Monrovia, Ramona, North Torrance

Division 6

1. Desert Christian Academy
2. Malibu
3. Webb
4. Capistrano Valley Christian
5. Sierra Canyon
6. Flintridge Prep
7. Crean Lutheran
8. Sage Hill
9. St. Margaret’s
10. Pasadena Poly

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @aramtolegian

When the Monrovia High School football team opens spring practice in two weeks, head coach Ryan Maddox will have an embarrassment of riches at the running back position.

Things were already looking up for the Wildcats’ ground attack with the return of last year’s second-leading rusher Darione Jones, who ran for 977 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Coaches were also expecting the emergence of sophomore-to-be Cameron Johnson, who was a dynamic runner for the Wildcats’ freshman team last fall.

But then came the arrival of Kurt Scoby, one of the top running backs in the state, who landed at Monrovia after several other brief stops this offseason.

Local fans will remember Scoby for what he did as a sophomore at Charter Oak in 2011. He played part of last season at St. Paul midway through his junior season.

Scoby is academically eligible to play, according to Maddox and is taking classes to catch up on his course load. Maddox said the final hurdle will be to get Scoby cleared with CIF.

Monrovia appeared to be in store for a rebuilding year after graduating a dynamic senior class. It now looks like the Wildcats won’t skip a beat given Scoby’s arrival.

“We’re excited about it,” Maddox said. “It’s just exciting to have two quality backs and athletes. I can imagine you’ll see some pretty creative sets.

“They will be a big part of the offensive packages and probably a part of the defensive packages as well.”

Although it’s early, Maddox said he can envision both Jones and Scoby playing linebacker on defense.

Fans can get an early look at Monrovia on May 18 at the Charter Oak Passing Tournament.

PHOTOS OF ALL OF FRIDAY’S ACTION

BOYS: Tribune 113, Star-News 110 — The Star-News erased a double-figure deficit in the second half but missed two 3-pointers that would have tied the game in the final minute. The series is now tied 5-5. Pasadena’s Andre Spight scored 32 points and was the Star-News team MVP. Spight also won the 3-point contest.

GIRLS: Tribune 78, Star-News 68 — The Star-News lost touch in the closing minutes and had no answer for the Tribune’s size advantage. Keppel’s Alyson Lock scored a game-high 21 points to earn team MVP honors. The Star-News’ series lead is now 6-4.

Got a feeling the Tribune boys/girls are going to sweep the Star-News at Friday’s All-Star Classic. Not just a feeling, guarantee it.

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) April 24, 2013

Damien’s Matt Dunn coaching the Boys and Bishop Amat’s Richard Wiard coaching the girls is a sweep waiting to happen #TRIBUNESWEEP

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) April 24, 2013

What: 10th annual Tribune/Star-News All-Star Boys/Girls All-Star Classic
Where: Damien High School
When: Friday
Time: Girls, 6 p.m., Boys, 8 p.m.

TEMPLE CITY’S FELIX AWUJO COULD TURN HEADS ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

Perhaps the best kept secret in the San Gabriel Valley when it comes to boys high school basketball is Arroyo’s Primitivo Gomez.

Gomez, who will play for the Tribune all-stars in Friday’s 10th Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic, may be ready to get the word out in a big way in his final prep game on Friday night.

And there should be an audience of next-level coaches there to watch it.

“An hour into practice, I started calling (college) coaches I know telling them they better be over here on Friday night to see this kid,” said Damien coach Matt Dunn, who will coach the Tribune team. “He’s really good, but nobody ever gets to see those kids.”

The boys all-star game is set for 8 p.m. at Damien High while the girls game is at 6 p.m., also at Damien.

Gomez, a 6-foot-5 combo forward/guard, led Arroyo to a 20-win season and the Mission Valley League championship. He averaged 25.7 points per game and 10.7 rebounds.

The Star-News has had no shortage of eye-opening players in practice either. Star-News Player of the Year Andre Spight has shined, scoring from just about anywhere on the floor. Spight will play at UTEP next season, so he’s not in need of any late-stage scouting.

But there are several other talents who have turned heads at Star-News practice, according to Flintridge Prep coach Garrett Ohara, who will coach the west-side all-stars.

“Spight is so good on the ball, he’s such a threat on the perimeter and getting to the basket, but we have several guys flying under the radar here who can get after it,” Ohara said. “Tyler Shimamoto (Gabrielino) and Felix Awujo (Temple City), this was the first time I got to see them.

“They have such great defensive tenacity, so we’re going to commit to defending well. This isn’t going to be an NBA All-Star Game.”

SHOOTOUT EXPECTED

It’s no secret that 3-point shooting was the catalyst of Temple City’s breakout season this winter. The Rams won the Rio Hondo League behind sharpshooters like Eric Olivas and Felix Awujo. Olivas hit 114 3-pointers this season and Awujo added 44. Both will be in the 3-point shooting contest at halftime of the boys game along with Pasadena’s Andre Spight.

The Tribune team will be represented in the 3-point shooting contest by Jared Dizon (Damien), Jordan Stokes (San Dimas) and Joseph Dionisio (Rowland).

TRIBUNE’S SECRET WEAPON

Dunn has pulled former legendary Northview coach Ron Rice out of retirement to help him coach the Tribune all-stars.

Rice retired this winter after 41 years. And if the game’s close, Dunn said he knows who he’s going to turn to.

“The most important piece of the puzzle is that we have a legend on the sideline,” Dunn said. “He’s fully prepared. I told him that if we’ve got a tied game with seven seconds to go, he’s going to have to draw up the game winner.”

ROSTERS

STAR-NEWS BOYS

Ryan Wiley, Rio Hondo Prep
Spencer Briglio, Keppel
Raymond Jackson, Pasadena
Andre Spight, Pasadena
Evan Bynum, Muir
Taturs Mayberry, Muir
Tyler Shimamomoto, Gabrielino
Spencer Hwang, San Marino
Jeremy Major, Maranatha
Mike DeMeester, Maranatha
Felix Awujo, Temple City
Eric Olivas, Temple City
Jack Anderson, La Canada
Kareem Ismail, Flintridge Prep
Aaron Cosme, Alhambra

STAR-NEWS GIRLS

Melody Gauthier, Rosemead
Sydney Hua, Rosemead
Dariel Johnson, Pasadena
Kayla Pounds, Blair
Emma Wong, San Marino
Leigh Kunitake, San Marino
Alyson Lock, Keppel
Leslie Tan, Keppel
Samantha Lee, Keppel
Carina So, Keppel
Melody Chang, Arcadia
Julissa Aguirre, Arcadia
Amber Partida, South Pasadena
Ari Tagdis, San Gabriel
Lili Lim, Westridge