May 2008 Archives

After falling short last year, Viewpoint of Calabasas won its first section baseball championship with a 7-2 victory over defending champion Upland Christian at UC Riverside saturday afternoon.

Michael Cameron delivered the big hit, a three-run home run in the top of the third inning to extend the Patriots lead to 5-0. Cameron was the losing pitcher in the 2007 final.

Ben Salzman got the victory to improve to 9-3 on the season and also had two hits. The senior also had a run-scoring single in the fifth inning.

Jordan Kaplan went 2 for 4 with two runs scored including an RBI single in the first inning.

Viewpoint of Calabasas just took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning against Faith Baptist.

Kelsey Kaplan hit a slow roller to first base and Michelle Lesser came home to score after leading off with a triple.

It's been a baseball season that has slowly built momentum, from the early rebuilding process, to the finding-themselves stage, to the late-season run to a league title, to finally a celebratory peak in the playoffs.

Chatsworth High and its ace pitcher Trevor Takeyama are again kings of City Section baseball after defeating Narbonne of Harbor City 7-2 in the City Championship on a warm Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

Takeyama (14-1), a right-hander with pin-point control and an impressive array of off-speed pitches, won his third consecutive playoff game, holding Narbonne to two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out seven.

"I feel great. We've come really far and grown tremendously to the point where we were really competitive today," Takeyama said. "This was just a good team effort. I could not have done it without my defense. They made a lot of great plays, not just today but all season."

Chatsworth (29-5) has won two City titles in a row and a City-record eight overall, including six over the past 10 years.

Narbonne (27-7) rallied to score a first-inning run, but the damage was minimalized by a couple of over-aggressive base-running mistakes, as Chatsworth shortstop Kasey Toven threw two runners out of the plate.

"In the past, Narbonne has always been aggressive on the base paths, so I thought those plays at the plate were a big part of the game," Toven said. "It gave our team momentum. I actually had a vision about this game, so I wasn't surprised.

And Trevor is one of the best pitchers in the City. He works as hard as anyone. I'm just on top of the world right now. I can't explain it. Nothing can replace this feeling."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Nick Russo pitched the final two innings in relief and hit a two-run double in top of the ninth Friday to help carry Simi Valley High to a 4-1 nine-inning victory over Long Beach Wilson in the Southern Section Div. I championship at Dodger Stadium.

"This is unbelievable, but I expected us to be here," Russo said.

Long Beach Wilson's star pitcher Aaron Hicks kept Simi Valley in check for most of the evening, limiting the Pioneers to two singles and an unearned run while striking out eight through eight-plus innings.

But when Hicks hit a batter and allowed a walk to begin the top of the ninth, he was replaced by Ray Hanson, and Simi Valley (25-8) rallied for three runs, breaking the tie when Brett Hale scored from third on a botched squeeze combined with a throwing error by catcher Tanner Perkins.

With a runner on first, Russo (9-2) got Perkins on a ground out to second to end the game.

Hicks was the one with all the credentials, a star pitcher who throws 97 mph and is a top Major League prospect.

But Simi Valley's unheralded right-hander Drew Sandler, better known for his catching and hitter, matched Hicks pitch for pitch for most of the night.

Through 7 ½ innings, the score was tied 1-1, with Hicks holding Simi Valley to two hits and an unearned run while striking out eight, and Sandler limiting Long Beach Wilson to one run on four hits while striking out two.

"I was just trying to throw hard and throw strikes," Sandler said. "This is a dream come true. We wanted this and we got it. We were destined to win. I don't know what else to say."

Sandler was clutch in the bottom of the seventh, when Long Beach Wilson (28-6-1) threatened but could not break the tie. Cody Harris led off with a single to left, stole second and moved to third on pinch-hitter Chris Hubbard's sacrifice. But Alec Rosales bouncer to second couldn't move the runner, then Sander stuck out Ryan Endres looking on a 2-2 fastball, as Simi Valley's erupted in jubilation.

"Drew is a great pitcher. We had faith in him," Russo said.

Simi Valley coach Matt La Belle was hoarse and emotional afterward.

"This team is unbelievable. They just have so much heart," La Belle said. "I don't know what else to say."

If the Simi Valley Pioneers are intimidated about the prospect of facing fireballing pitcher Aaron Hicks of Long Beach Wilson tonight in the Div. I championship at Dodger Stadium, they aren't showing it.

"We're feeling good and loose. I like the vibe, the feeling," coach Matt La Belle was saying just a moment ago as the teams were warming up. "They're confident but not overconfident."

Nevertheless, La Belle has been around long enough to know that if Hicks -- who is 8-1 and throws 97 mph -- has his best stuff, Simi Valley could be in for an uphill climb.

"We just need to have a good approach and make him prove he can throw his curveball for strikes," La Belle said. "If he's throwing hard and his curveball is going over, too, then we could be in trouble. But so would anybody."

Drew Sandler (6-3) takes the mound for Simi Valley. First pitch at 7:30 p.m. Should be a good one.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

St. Genevieve of Panorama City has hired Doug Yocum as its new boys basketball coach.

The school had been looking for a permanent coach since it fired Kimo Atkins midway through last season.

Yocum was the coach at Valley Torah of Valley Village the past eight years. He led the Wolfpack to the playoffs each season.

Crespi High in Encino will be hosting a boys basketball summer league on Wednesdays starting June 25.

Here is the schedule:

June 25
1:30 p.m. Malibu vs. Buckley
2:45 p.m. Venice vs. Newbury Park
4:00 p.m. Calabasas vs. El Camino Real
5:15 p.m. Calabasas vs. North Hollywood
6:30 p.m. Kennedy vs. Crespi
7:45 p.m. Hart vs. Crescenta Valley
9:00 p.m. Montclair Prep vs. Village Christian

July 2
1:30 p.m. Crespi vs. Crescenta Valley
2:45 p.m. Venice vs. Montclair Prep
4:00 p.m. Calabasas vs. Hart
5:15 p.m. Calabasas vs. Buckley
6:30 p.m. Malibu vs. Newbury Park
7:45 p.m. Kenedy vs. North Hollywood
9:00 p.m. Village Christian vs. El Camino Real

July 9
1:30 p.m. Malibu vs. Village Christian
2:45 p.m. Venice vs. Crespi
4:00 p.m. Calabasas vs. Crescenta Valley
5:15 p.m. Calabasas vs. Montclair Prep
6:30 p.m. El Camino Real vs. Buckley
7:45 p.m. Newbury Park vs. North Hollywood
9:00 p.m. Hart vs. Kennedy

July 16
1:30 p.m. Malibu vs. North Hollywood
2:45 p.m. Venice vs. Crescenta Valley
4:00 p.m. Calabasas vs. Crespi
5:15 p.m. Calabasas vs. El Camino Real
6:30 p.m. Buckley vs. Newbury Park
7:45 p.m. Kennedy vs. Montclair Prep
9:00 p.m. Hart vs. Village Christian

July 23
1:30 p.m. Buckley vs. Village Christian
2:45 p.m. Venice vs. North Hollywood
4:00 p.m. Calabasas vs. Malibu
5:15 p.m. Calabasas vs. Kennedy
6:30 p.m. Crespi vs. El Camino Real
7:45 p.m. Hart vs. Newbury Park
9:00 p.m. Crescenta Valley vs. Montclair Prep

July 30
1:30 p.m. Malibu vs. Montclair Prep
2:45 p.m. Crespi vs. Hart
4:00 p.m. Calabasas vs. Venice
5:15 p.m. Calabasas vs. Crescenta Valley
6:30 p.m. El Camino Real vs. Newbury Park
7:45 p.m. Buckley vs. North Hollywood
9:00 p.m. Kennedy vs. Village Christian

After sitting out last game because of a concussion, there was no way Trevor Gee was going to miss the Southern Section Div. III baseball championship.

"If I wouldn't have been cleared, I would have gone ballistic," Gee said.

At the last minute, it was decided Gee would play after a doctor gave him an OK, and Gee was keen to take advantage.

Down by two runs in the bottom of the sixth, Gee came through with the key hit, an RBI single combined with an outfield error that scored two runs and greased the way for Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks' 4-2 victory Thursday over South Hills of West Covina at Dodger Stadium.

Gee scored the go-ahead run on Nik Rodarte's sacrifice fly. He also played sparkling defense at third base with three assists and a putout, fielding Tyler Buffington's grounder and nailing him at first for the final out in the seventh that set off a mob celebration, as Notre Dame (27-4) won its first baseball title in the school's 60-year history.

"I'm speechless. I don't know what to say," Gee said. "I'm just very grateful. I definitely had some extra adrenaline pumping today."

Rodarte (11-1) pitched six-plus innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and four walks with one strikeout. He was no unhittable, but Rodarte was able to bare down when he had to, as South Hills (23-6) stranded 10 runners, six in scoring position.

"I've never felt better in my life," Rodarte said. "This has been a dream of mine ever since I put on a Notre Dame uniform."

It took a while for Notre Dame to come to life, but Rodarte did not panic, patiently awaiting a rally, as the Knights continued a season-long trend of coming from behind in the late innings.

"To tell you the truth, I never doubted us because we've been doing this all year," Rodarte said. "We've got a lot of clutch players. Trevor Gee is a real gamer. I knew he would come back today."

Notre Dame coach Tom Dill depended on Rodarte and Gee, his most experienced players, and they did not let him down.

"We got word late last night that Trevor was cleared, but I really wasn't sure about it until I hit some ground balls to him today and he seemed 100 percent," Dill said. "He might have wanted to play and his doctor might have wanted him to play, but not until we saw he was 100 percent.
"Obviously, it was great to have him back. He's a four-year all-league player, and he and Nik are the backbone of the team. It's been like that all year."

Through the years, Notre Dame has established itself as one of the San Fernando Valley's top sports schools, winning titles in football, boys' basketball and track, but never baseball until Thursday.

"Hey, you've got to get the first one some time," Dill said. "I like being here. This is my 17th year, and it's been worth it."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Notre Dame rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth, pulling ahead 3-2 over South Hills in the D3 championship at Dodger Stadium.

Two runs scored on RBI single by Trevor Gee -- who has returned after missing one game because of a concussion -- combined with a two-base outfield error when the Gee's bouncing liner wasn't fielded cleanly. Then Gee scored on Nik Rodarte's sac fly.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

It's the Southern Section Div. III championship game, and Notre Dame looks a bit flat, trailing 2-0 to South Hills here at Dodger Stadium in the top of the fifth.

South Hills scored a run in the first and second off Notre Dame ace Nik Rodarte (10-1), who has since settled down but continues to wait for a rally by the Knights.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

It's a dream come true for every high school baseball player to play in Dodger Stadium, but Simi Valley High isn't satisfied to just be one of the finalists in the Southern Section Div. I championship Friday at 7:30.

The Pioneers (24-8) have every intention and not just showing up but of defeating defending champion Long Beach Wilson and its superstar pitcher, Aaron Hicks, who throws 95 mph is an almost certain first-round Major League draft pick this coming Thursday.

"We're very excited about this game. I can't wait," said Simi Valley's Jonathan Meyer, who has nine home runs and 43 RBIs. "Hicks is pretty intimidating, but we just need everyone to keep a cool head and stay on his fastball, and hopefully see the ball better than normally."

In four playoff games, Long Beach Wilson (28-5-1) has not allowed more than three runs in a game, while Simi Valley has averaged more than 11 runs in the postseason.

Something has to give.

The tough part for Simi Valley will be contending with Hicks, who defeated Hart of Newhall, 4-2, in the quarterfinals, then earned the save Tuesday in a 5-3 semifinal victory over Norco. The 6-foot-1 right-hander is 8-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 64 innings - an average of 11.4 per seven innings.

"I think we can do it. We just need to stay disciplined," Simi Valley's Nick Russo said. "Everyone on this team wants to win this game. We've grown up playing together together, and this would be a nice way to end."

Drew Sandler is scheduled to oppose Hicks. Russo and Meyer, two of Simi Valley's top pitchers, pitched Tuesday in a 6-5 11-inning victory over Mater Dei of Santa Ana, but they're available if needed.

The marathon, 3 ½ hour victory over Mater Dei has brought the team closer than ever, Russo said.

"A win like that just shows what happens when you've been playing together a long time like we have," Russo said.

Hicks, who has signed with USC, is also a top hitter and center fielder - he projects as an outfielder professionally - who is batting .489 with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 50 runs and 36 walks. He also has 37 stolen bases.

Long Beach Wilson's other top players include (.485, five home runs, 43 RBIs) and David Tarrazas (.370, 25 RBIs). The Bruins are 4-0 this season against local competition - all from Santa Clarita - with victories over Hart, Saugus (twice) and Valencia.

But playing in a place like Dodger Stadium can make all the difference in the world, and it can go both ways: add some adrenaline or perhaps heighten the nerves.

"I'm just pumped to play in Dodger Stadium," Russo said. "Everyone is excited. We can't wait to get out there."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Jin Soo Kim might be a familiar name to those entrenched in the local basketball scene.

The former Montclair Prep standout, who transferred to South Kent Prep in Connecticut after his one season at the Van Nuys campus is a hot prospect on the East Coast.

Kim has developed a nice shot out to the 3-point line and is ranked No. 131 in the country by Rival.com for players graduating in June 2009.

Kim was an All-Southern Section Div. IV-A second team selection in 2005 and has committed to Maryland

Narbonne's coach Bill Dillon said before his team's City Section semifinal game against Cleveland that he was happy to have a home game.
Actually, he said he was pleasantly surprised that his team was at home and not on the road in the playoffs. Apparently that hasn't been the case in previous playoff years.
In one instance, having home-field advantage almost cost his team the game. In another, it helped his team win the game.
Cleveland's Jordan Liss hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to give his team a 4-2 lead. The ball was hit to centerfield and barely landed above a yellow line on the outfield fence designating a home run. The line was carved around the centerfield fence to make room for a scoreboard. It's about three feet shorter than the rest of the fence. If not for the scoreboarad, the ball probably would have bounced off the centerfield fence for a two-run or even one-run double.
In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Narbonne's Juan Avila hit a two-run home run aided by another home-field rule. An errant throw got caught in Cleveland's bullpen netting, allowing a run to score and the Narbonne hitter to end up at second base with two outs.
The netting is optional and Cleveland decided to put it up before the game started to protect its pitchers. Both coaches were warned about having the netting up before the game started and the consequences of having a ball get stuck in it.
Cleveland coach Greg Venger said he was more concerned about the ruling than about pitching to Avila, Narbonne's No. 3 hitter, with first base open. Afterward, Venger said he should have walked Avila. Instead, Avila hit the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to give his team a 5-4 lead.
Dillon said the scoreboard was installed in 2003 and the bullpen netting rule is explained before every game at Narbonne's home games.
"I'll still take this," Dillon said. "I prefer to play this game here instead of playing the game at Cleveland."
Narbonne lost its starting second baseman, Victor Arroyo, who was ejected in the second inning trying to score on a delayed double steal. He collided with Cleveland catcher Spencer Horowitz to end the inning. The home plate umpire signaled that Arroyo, a sophomore, had his hands and arms up when he made contact with Horowitz. The umpire immediately ejected Arroyo, and as a result he will have to sit out the City championship game against Chatsworth at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.
"It would have been nice if he got a warning," Dillon said.
To be honest, Arroyo did not hit Horowitz that hard, and it looked like Arroyo was trying to protect himself from the collision more than trying to use his arms to knock the ball out of Horowitz's glove. It seems like a steep penalty for a kid who might never get another chance to play in Dodger Stadium.
Speaking of the City championship game, Dillon said he will start Chris Park, a senior right-hander who is 8-2, against Chatsworth.

A protest by Viewpoint coach Frank Pontello against Avalon has been upheld this morning by the Southern Section on grounds that Avalon's home field was not suitable for Tuesday's 8-7 victory by Avalon in the Southern Section Div. VII semifinal.

As a result, the semifinal is scheduled to be replayed Thursday at 2 p.m. at Long Beach Millikan High.

Pontello used a tape measure prior to the game and discovered the bases were 92 feet apart instead of the regulation 90 feet, and that the pitching rubber was 62 feet from home plate instead of the regulation 60 feet, six inches. Plus, the outfield fence, 248 feet from home plate all the way around, was so close that balls hit over the fence were ruled ground-rule doubles instead of home runs.

"You know, (upholding the protest) is the right thing to do, the fair thing to do under the circumstances," Pontello said. "It just was not a normal baseball game. (The dimensions) were a factor, all the distances. It changed the game.

Avalon athletic director Patti Engel is satisfied with the Southern Section's decision because Avalon could have been forced to forfeit the game.

"The kids know, and it's very frustrating, but we're grateful to the CIF for allowing us to replay the game," Engel said.

Engel said a groundskeeper made a mistake in assembling the field -- on a converted softball field at a park adjacent to the school -- after Avalon's usual home field.was damaged in a fire.

"We actually tried to make the corrections right before the game but the umpires called their association and said we couldn't do that," Engel said.

Avalon coach Richard Hernandez was not available for comment.

"I don't think (Hernandez) was aware of it until we pulled out the tape measure and actually measured it," Pontello said. "He was like, 'What the heck?' He was really taken aback."

Both teams hit three ground-rule doubles, and Pontello said one by Viewpoint's Michael Cameron would have been a home run on most fields.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

The San Fernando Valley-based 2D1 Basketball Academy lost in the championship game of the BCA Memorial Day tournament, 67-64 to California Supreme Monday night at Lynwood High School.

Junior-to-be Willie Hankins and top senior-to-be Victor Rudd scored 20 and 12 points to lead 2D1. Both players will be playing at Van Nuys High next year.

California Supreme had players from Mater Dei, Fairfax, Dorsey and Bishop Montgomery on its roster. They were, however, playing without Jeremy Tyler. Tyler is a 6'10 sophomore prospect, widely regarded as the best 2010 prospect in the country.

Van Nuys could be ranked in the top five in th area to start the season along with Taft, Campbell Hall, Harvard-Westlake and Cleveland.

The Wolves also return senior-to-be Cameron Broomi, Jake Bali and sophomore-to-be Dominique Evans.

There are rumors flying around Evans could end up at Fairfax though.

Both Valencia and Simi Valley won semifinal games and will meet up this weekend for the Div. I championship at Barber Park in Irvine.

Valencia won 3-2 at Santiago of Corona and Simi Valley held off Norco 1-0.

Valencia won last years championship, beating Hart of Newhall.

Simi Valley comes into the contest undefeated at 31-0.

It should be a great game to say the least.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
SOUTHERN SECTION
All games 3:15 p.m. today
SEMIFINALS

DIV. I
Simi Valley (23-8) vs. Mater Dei (24-6), 4 p.m. at UC Riverside - Nick Russo looks to shut down the Monarchs, coming off upset over No. 1 seed Los Alamitos
Note: Championship on Friday, 4:30 p.m. at Dodger Stadium
DIV. III

Notre Dame (25-4) at Quartz Hill (23-5-2) - Upset-minded Quartz Hill looks to knock off second-seeded Knights in windy Antelope Valley
Note: Championship on Thursday, 4:30 p.m. at Dodger Stadium

DIV. V

Paraclete (18-10) at St. Paul (21-11-1) - Paraclete has allowed total of nine runs during six-game winning streak
Note: Championship on Saturday, 7 p.m. at UC Riverside
DIV. VII

Viewpoint (17-8) at Avalon (14-10) -- Defending finalist Viewpoint hoping to save ace Ben Salzman for final
NOTE: Championship on Saturday, noon at UC Riverside

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Semifinals, Wednesday, 3 p.m.

Kennedy (22-10-1) at Chatsworth (27-5) - Two of the City's most accomplished programs square off in Valley rivalry
Cleveland (25-7) at Narbonne (26-6) - Pitching-rich Cleveland has allowed three runs over past three games
INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Quarterfinal, today, 3 p.m.

Granada Hills (11-21) vs. Los Angeles (21-6) at Griffith Park - Teams have had all weekend to think about rain-postponed showdown.

Semifinals, Wednesday, 3 p.m.
Granada Hills-Los Angeles winner vs. South Gate (15-9), site to be determined: Big prize at stake: an appearance in Dodger Stadium

Notes: Championship is Saturday, 9 a.m. at Dodger Stadium

SMALL SCHOOLS DIVISION

Semifinals, today

Discovery Prep (5-11) vs. Sherman Oaks CES (15-6), 3 p.m. at Encino Baseball Complex - After 0-5 start, Discovery Prep on verge of Cinderella championship appearance
Note: Championship is Friday, 4 p.m at USC's Dedeaux Field.

Notre Dame will be without the services of standout third baseman Trevor Gee on Tuesday for the Southern Section Div. III semifinals at Quartz Hill.

Gee was hospitalized after suffering a concussion Friday when he collided with a Paloma Valley player while Gee stole a base in a 9-3 victory in the quarterfinals.

The winner advances to the championship game Thursday at Dodger Stadium, but Gee is not expected to return. The Loyola Marymount signee is batting .301 with two home runs and 20 RBIs.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

I was checking out players and teams at the BCA Memorial Day tournament Sunday at Long Beach St. and Lynwood High and ran into guard Coltrane Powdrill of St. Francis of La Canada.

Powdrill was playing for the Los Angeles Rockfish. Powdrill said he is transferring to Crescenta Valley next year.

Gone are Lorne Jackson and Michael Meza at Simi Valley.

Don't feel too bad for the Pioneers and coach Christian Aurand.

Aurand and assistant coach Ryan Moore have sophomore-to-be Jonathan Davis waiting in the wings to join sharpshooter Brad Lewis next year.

"This guy is going to be great," Aurand said. "He is ahead of Mike Meza at the same stage."

Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks are the front runners for next years Marmonte League championship.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10

1. Notre Dame (24-4) -- Power pitching and power hitting a great combo

2. Hart (23-6) -- Hart's Montgomery vs. LB Wilson's Ricks big sell today

3. Chatsworth (26-5) -- Might have the area's deadliest lineup

4. Valencia (22-7) -- No one is more fundamentally sound

5. Simi Valley (22-8) -- Star power with SS Jonathan Meyer

6. Quartz Hill (22-5-2) -- Coming on like the wind with 15 wins in row

7. Crespi (23-6) -- Top-seeded Celts coming off second-round playoff loss

8. Thousand Oaks (20-10) -- A surprise Lancers no longer alive in DI tourney

9. Cleveland (24-7-1) -- Defending City finalist looking to return to Dodger Stadium

10. Kennedy (21-10-1) -- Golden Cougars coming on strong with six wins in row

OTHERS: Crescenta Valley (19-6); Saugus (17-10); Camarillo (19-8); Royal (19-9); Loyola (18-13).

-- Gerry Gittelson

Jack Van Patten has resigned as Hoover's girls' coach after going 10-15 this past season but will remain the school's athletic director, according to the Glendale News-Press.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Southern Section quarterfinals
All games 3:15 p.m. today

DIV. I

Long Beach Wilson (26-5-1) at Hart (23-6): A showdown between two of the nation's top pitchers, Hart's Michael Montgomery vs. Long Beach Wilson's Aaron Hicks.

Valencia (22-7) at Simi Valley (22-8): Both feature top shortstops in Valencia's Christian Lopes and Simi Valley's Jonathan Meyer.

Div. III

Paloma Valley (23-3) at Notre Dame (24-4): Notre Dame, led by P/1B Nick Rodarte and 3B Trevor Gee, has won 13 of last 15; Paloma Valley has won 15 in row.

California (19-11) at Quartz Hill (22-5-2): Quartz Hill, led by sluggers Shon Roe, Mick Gaston and Travis McBride, has won 15 in row.

Div. V
Hesperia (19-8) at Paraclete (16-10): Line in the sand will be drawn in battle of the desert.

Div. VII
Cornerstone Christian (15-7) at Viewpoint (16-8): Defending section runner-up Viewpoint looking to return to final.

CITY SECTION
All games 3 p.m. today

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Palisades (20-11) at Chatsworth (26-5): Chatsworth coming off close-call 1-0 victory in first round.

San Pedro (14-15) at Kennedy (21-10-1): Kennedy, known to peak in playoffs, has won 11 of past 12.

Cleveland (24-7) vs. Roosevelt (32-5-1) at East L.A. College: Roosevelt ace Martin Villanueva pitched just three innings Wednesday and could start again.

El Camino Real (19-13) at Narbonne (25-6): ECR's Mitch Bluman hit three HRs in first-round victory.


INVITATIONAL

Granada Hills (10-21) at Los Angeles (20-6): Granada Hills' first-round playoff win broke four-game losing streak.

Crenshaw (17-8) at Birmingham (10-16): Crenshaw has won 10 in a row.

-- Gerry Gittelson

This is supposedly a rebuilding year for Valencia High's softball team, coming off a Southern Section Div. I championship and the nation's No. 1 ranking before graduating All-American pitcher Jordan Taylor plus a handful of other current NCAA Div. I freshmen.

But someone forgot to tell Jessica Spigner, who continues to carry Valencia to success beyond expectations. She pitched a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and hit a fourth-inning home run Thursday to break a scoreless tie in a 6-0 victory over visiting Corona (24-10) in the section quarterfinals.

Spigner has pitched every inning - she's 27-5 with a 0.66 ERA and 11 shutouts - and she has hit 10 home runs, perhaps the area's best hitting-pitching combination since Quartz Hill's Jodie Cox in the late 1990s.

Most important, Spigner has Valencia on the brink of its third section final appearance in her four-year career.

"We've kind of built this team up from the beginning, and we've really worked hard to get where we need to be," Spigner said. "We played a great game and came through offensively. We don't take anyone lightly, and we certainly didn't take Corona for granted. If we did, that wouldn't have been good for us."

Valencia plays Santiago of Corona or Thousand Oaks in the semifinals Tuesday.

Spigner did not allow a runner to cross first base, turned two double plays, and faced just one batter over the minimum.

"Jessica was just on fire today. She pitched a great game," Valencia coach Donna Lee said. "We put it on her shoulders, and she did it offensively and defensively."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Chatsworth's Gennifer Brandon, a 6'3 forward who can do it all is ranked the No. 5 recruit in the country according to ESPN's HoopGurlz.com

Brandon is a high-major recruit. She led Chatsworth to the City Championship game and state playoffs last season

VALENCIA - Robbie Mousselli, the Foothill League's returning player of the year, has labored through such a pitching slump over the past month that he was nearly pulled from the rotation.

The senior right-hander from Valencia High implored coach Jared Snyder for one more chance Tuesday in a Southern Section Div. I second-round playoff game against visiting Lakewood.

"Coach asked me if I wanted it or should he pitch Josh Corralles again. I said, 'No way, I want it more than anything," Mousselli said.

So it was with renewed focus and determination that Mousselli took the mound with the season on the line, and he came through in a big way, holding Lakewood (21-12) to two singles and striking out nine in a complete-game 4-0 victory to propel Valencia (22-7) into the semifinals Friday at Simi Valley.

"It's true. We did ask Robbie if it might be better if Josh pitches again, but he told me he could do it," Snyder said. "This was the most mentally prepared I think he's ever been. We just had to give him the rock because when he said he could do it, I believed him."
Mousselli (6-2) also delivered a bouncing two-run double down the left-field line in the bottom of the sixth to break a scoreless tie, as Lakewood third baseman Brandon Gillilan unconventionally failed to cover the corner.

Like a lot of Lakewood's supporters, including coach Spud O'Neil, who would argue the call with the umpire, Gillilan thought Mousselli's hit was foul.

"It looked foul to me ... and the coach wanted me to play off the line for a double play and not for the dead pull," Gillilan said. "I think we could have won this game."
What did Mousselli think?

"No comment," he said with a smile.

Snyder conceded he would have had his third baseman play closer to the line in that situation - "no doubt about it," he said -- but he also believed the call was correct.

"It looked fair," Snyder said. "In a close game, there is always going to be some controversy like that."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Simi Valley coach Russ Michael said he wanted to get his top two pitchers some work in his team's second-round Div. I playoff game against Trabuco Hills of Mission Viejo on Tuesday.
Kelli-Jo Killingsworth pitched the first three innings. Amanda Oliveto pitched the final four innings. It was Oliveto's first pitching appearance since April 24, wheh she sprained her ankle celebrating after a win against Marmonte League rival Thousand Oaks.
Even though she warmed up with Killingsworth and Sophia Perez before the game, Oliveto said she didn't know she was going in until the third inning. She combined with Killingsworth to shut out Trabuco Hills 1-0 and keep Simi Valley's undefeated season alive at 28-0.
Michael told her to get ready to go in after Killingsworth gave up a single and hit a batter in the top of the third inning.
Trabuco Hills had runners on first and second with no outs, but Killingsworth struck out Taylor Thurman and got Kelsi Luttrell to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Oliveto took over after that and held Trabuco Hills to two hits in the final four innings.
"It's exactly what they've done all year," Michael said.
Taylor got a one-out single for Trabuco Hills in the sixth inning and Luttrell followed with another single to put runners at first and second. But Oliveto got Kristyn Summers to pop out to third and struck out Kayle Massey to end the inning.
"I think that inning my change-up was a little meaty," Oliveto said. "I wasn't nervous. I shook it off and told myself, 'Get the next one.'"
Simi Valley right fielder Amber Olive said the pitching change didn't bother her in the field.
"You can throw any one of our pitchers and there's no doubt in my mind we won't field the ball," Olive said.
Sam Fischer added having two quality pitchers on the team is a luxury.
"I didn't know who was going to pitch," said Fischer, who described Killingsworth as a junk-baller and Oliveto as a hard thrower. "I thought it was a good mix."

Dayne Crist, a top graduating quarterback from Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, is scheduled to participate in the first annual "Steve Clarkson Super Seven QB Retreat" on May 23 in Santa Barbara.

With Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Jerry Rice and Heisman winner Troy Smith set to lend instruction, the event will draw seven of the best high school
quarterbacks including Crist and Gatorade
National High School Player of the Year winner Matt Barkley of Mater Dei.

The retreat will feature both on-field and off-field training for the
young signal callers.

Clarkson, who has tutored everyone from Matt Leinert to Jimmy Clausen, is perhaps the nation's top private quarterback coach. He played at Wilson High in L.A. during the program's glory days in the 1970s and played professionally for the Denver Broncos and the CFL.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

-- photo of Steve Clarkson (he's the one on the left) and Jimmy Clausen

Thousand Oaks offensive lineman Jordan Allred, a graduating senior, has an offer from Central Connecticut State, according to scout.com. Otherwise, he plans to play JC football at Ventura College.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Image from scout.com

What terrible luck local local teams endured Saturday during coin flips in Los Alamitos to decide the home teams for the second round of the Southern Section playoffs.

Seven of the area's eight surviving teams needed to flip because their opponent in the second round had the same amount of home playoff games -- for years, that's the way the Southern Section has done it -- and here's how it went down:

In Div I, Simi Valley lost the flip, Hart lost the flip and Thousand Oaks lost the flip -- all must play at distant locations in the second round -- while, voila, Valencia won the flip to play host to Lakewood.

In Div. II, Crescenta Valley lost the flip.

In Div. III, Notre Dame lost the flip, and Crespi lost the flip.

For those scoring at home, the locals were combined 1-6 on coin flips. Certainly nothing to flip out about, that's for sure.

Oh well, the good news is some should have automatic home games in the quarterfinals -- if they survive.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Chaminade's quest for a third straight Div. IV championship is off to a shaky, albeit gutty, start.
Pitcher Emily Bliss has a fractured finger on her pitching hand.
Freshman Brittany Labbe, the team's No. 2 pitcher, hurt her shoulder trying to make a diving catch in right field during Chaminade's first-round, 1-0, extra-inning playoff win over St. Paul on Friday.
The team managed two hits, a pair of singles by Brittany Cervantes and Megan Tupper, and scored its only run in its first playoff game on a throwing error by the St. Paul catcher on a stolen base attempt.
First Bliss. Chaminade teammate Madi Zymkowitz said Bliss "really stepped it up."
"She was pretty tough and she fought through it," Zymkowitz said.
Bliss hurt her finger trying to catch a comebacker in a game against Alemany on April 15. Chaminade shortstop Brittany Cervantes said the day after the Alemany game, Bliss's finger was purple and black and "pretty big."
"She worked hard, definitely," Cervantes said. "You wouldn't know her finger was hurt."
Labbe getting hurt doesn't leave Chaminade coach Gina Hairapetian with many options. She said after the game that Labbe needs some rest and ice. She hurt her shoulder while playing right field. When asked if she had second thoughts about starting her No. 2 pitcher in the outfield when her No. 1 pitcher had a fractured finger, Hairapetian said she had no regrets.
But when Labbe hurt herself, Bliss said it made her dig deep.
"I told myself, 'Emily, you have to finish this,' because we didn't have anybody else after that," Bliss said.
Cervantes said Labbe is an important player on the team. In addition to playing the outfield and pitching, she has been at third base at times during the season.
"She's a big player on our team," Cervantes said. "She didn't want to come off the field."
As for the hitting woes, Cervantes chalked it up to Chaminade being a young team. Even though it's won the past two Div. IV championships, there are five seniors, two sophomores and one freshman on the team.
Chaminade had its chances to score against St. Paul. Cervantes and Megan Tupper led off the fourth inning with back-to-back singles and Chaminade had runners at first and third with no outs, but did not score.
"Every inning have have a chance to score," Cervantes said. "Our team is a young team. We should have capitalized. It wouldn't have been as nerve-racking."
When Chaminade had a chance to score the winning run against St. Paul, Hairapetian said nothing was going to keep her from sending Zymkowitz from second on an errant throw by the catcher into centerfield.
"It should have been a 3-0, 4-0 ball game," Hairapetian said. "It's a bad way to lose on a throw from the catcher. I just knew I had to send Madi. There was no way I was going to hold her back with two outs and us battling with our sticks."

According to a story in the AV Press, Rosamond football player Andrew Lopez, Jr., was stabbed to death Friday at party in Lancaster. He was 16.

No suspects have been arrested, though police are following up on leads.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Running back Chris Brown from Newbury Park has scholarship offers from Washington and Portland State, according to scout.com. He rushed for more than 1,900 yards as a junior last season.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Image from scout.com

Hoping to strike a plea bargain Wednesda