August 2011 Archives

The quarterback and receiver talk about the upcoming season.

A school source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, because it is not official says former Montclair Prep coach Rick Weber is in line to take over as baseball coach at Sierra Canyon.

Weber led the Mounties to the Div. V quarterfinals this past season and to the semifinals in 2010.

Weber previously coached at Birmingham.

Saturday, Sep 3
Court #1
9am Westlake v. Birmingham
10am Golden Valley v. Muir
11am Birmingham v. Thousand Oaks
12noon Sierra Canyon v. La Verne Lutheran
1pm Pasadena v. Dorsey
2pm Beverly Hills v. El Camino Real
3pm Alemany v. La Verne Lutheran
4pm El Camino Real v. St. John Bosco
5pm Notre Dame v. Beverly Hills
6pm Taft v. Alemany
7pm St. John Bosco v. Crespi
8pm Calabasas v. Taft
Court#2
11am Canoga Park v. Palmdale
12noon Muir v. Westlake
1pm Thousand Oaks v. Golden Valley
2pm Palmdale v. Cleveland
3pm Dorsey v. Notre Dame
4pm Crespi v. Sierra Canyon

Sunday, Sep 4
Court #1
9am Cleveland v. Canoga Park
10am Golden Valley v. Palmdale
11am Birmingham v. Canoga Park
12noon Westlake v. Cleveland
1pm Calabasas v. Muir
2pm Beverly Hills v. Thousand Oaks
3pm Pasadena v. Calabasas
4pm Thousand Oaks v. Dorsey
5pm Notre Dame v. Pasadena
6pm Alemany v. St. John Bosco
7pm Taft v. La Verne Lutheran
8pm El Camino Real v. Sierra Canyon

Julian Brooks, a standout receiver/defensive back for Sierra Canyon, committed Tuesday to Arizona, picking the Wildcats over several other major colleges programs.

"It was a tough decision," Brooks said.

El Camino Real coach David Rebibo confirmed 6-foot-5 junior guard Michael Thomas has enrolled.

Thomas transferred from Taft.

Thomas played spraingly on Taft's City Section championship team last year, but is an intriguing prospect.

Thomas could make an impact with Maleke Haynes, Julian Richardson and Evan Wardlow.

The Firebaugh vs. Van Nuys game has been switched from Friday to Thursday.

Game time is 7 p.m. at Van Nuys.

Former Taft quarterback Michael Bercovici, a freshman at Arizona State, has been announced as the backup quarterback, according to ASU coach Dennis Erickson.

Former Alemany quarterback Vernon Adams, an Eastern Washington freshman, completed 8 of 10 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, engineering two scoring drives Saturday in an intrasquad scrimmage.

"I love it up here. Great people, fans, teamates and coaches," Adams said. "Reminds me of Alemany because at first we were low, and now we're coming on the rise."

Former Cal State Northridge guard and current Calabasas High assistant boys' basketball coach Joseph Frazier is in intensive care at a local hospital.

Frazier was the victim of a hit-and-run accident about 8:45 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Ventura Blvd. and Wilbur Ave.

Frazier, who attended Muir High in Pasadena, played at CSUN from 2001-05.

A grey or white SUV was seen fleeing the accident into a local neighborhood.

Anyone with information, please call 818-644-8082

Freshman guards Larry Bush and Alex Weatherspoon have left Buckley.

Bush has transferred to Westlake and Weatherspoon is at Bell-Jeff.

Buckley reached the Southern Section Div. IV-A championship game last year, losing to Oaks Christian.

Coach Mike Hamilton will rely on junior Tyler Coppin-Carter, sophomores Aston Beal and Chase Holliday and talented incoming freshman Austin Butler, who enrolled after Montclair Prep cut its athletic program in July.

There are big football changes at Poly High in Sun Valley. After going 9-3 in each of the past two seasons, the defending East Valley League champion Parrots are moving up to Div. I in the City Section under a new coach, Joe Pierro, and a new scheme that switches from their tradition wing-T to a spread offense.

There was a setback when quarterback Erik Gonzalez suffered a season-ending knee injury, but Pierro feels good about the way things are developing.

"This is the first time Poly has been a Division I team in a really long time, and I'm looking forward to the challenge," said Pierro, who has replaced Scott Faer, who resigned. "I won section championships in high school at Clovis West and as an assistant at Birmingham, and I've been pushing these kids because I don't think they know what they're in for. It's kind of like shock therapy."

Robert Rojas, a junior, is the leading candidate at quarterback, and there are a couple of proven running backs in Anthony Ephriam and Paul Mata. Ephriam, the half-brother of last year's standout running back Kevin Ervin, performed well as a junior with 695 yards on just 37 carries - and average of 18.8 yards - and nine touchdowns. Mata, a stocky 5-5, 205-pound fullback, had 574 yards and five touchdowns.

"Anytime you come in and go from from the wing-T to the spread offense, you're going to have your growing pains, but so far, so good," Pierro said.

Poly also returns defensive linemen Kevin Arrue and Gerardo Garcia, two of the best in the East Valley League, so there are some good building blocks.

Of the six others in the league, Arleta (11-2) is the only one competing in Div. I. The Mustangs' top returning player is Dejon Coleman, who as a junior rushed for 580 yards, caught 18 passes and scored 14 touchdowns.

A couple of other traditional City Section Div. I programs, San Fernando and Granada Hills, are moving to Div. II, and both could be title contenders in the smaller division.

Just three years ago, San Fernando advanced to the Div. I quarterfinals, but the Tigers have gone 3-7 in each of the past two seasons. Granada Hills has not won a playoff game since 2003, but the Highlanders have a three-year starting quarterback in Josh Szin.

Now that three-year standout running back Malcolm Thomas has graduated, Panorama is looking to pass the football this season, and that means returning quarterback Enrique Camacho could be primed for a big year.

"He's our guy," first-year coach Bob Mesa said. "He's 6-foot-2, and he has a pretty good arm and good size, and he's a great leader.

Thomas rushed for nearly 1,800 yards last season as Panorama averaged nearly 350 yards on the ground, and Camacho completed 51 percent of his passes for 796 yards and nine touchdowns.

Panorama, 7-5 last season, opens Thursday against visiting South Gate.

Kenny Plummer has been named the new girls' basketball coach at Oaks Christian, according to Lions athletic director Jan Hethcock.

Plummer replaces Mario Trutanic Jr., who accepted an assistant women's basketball coaching position at Cal State Northridge.

Plummer guided the Lions during the summer following Trutanic's departure and served as an assistant on last year's Oaks Christian team that finished 25-9, reaching the Southern Section Div. IV-A final, losing to St. Anthony.

"After an exhaustive interview process, coach Plummer clearly was the best candidate to take over the girls basketball program," Hethcock said. "Plummer's philosophy and coaching style is coupled with his experience and knowledge of the program that he helped put in place with coach Trutanic last year. Kenny is an exceptional individual and an excellent coach; I am very pleased that he has come on board as our new head coach for the Lady Lions."

Well, that did not take long. Nick Isham, last year's L.A. Daily News Player of the Year at Westlake, has been named starting quarterback at Louisiana Tech.

Randy Uzoma, a multi-purpose back for Canoga Park, has committed to Nevada.

It looks like Trey Dickerson is headed to Price.

Dickerson indicated he was going to attend Sierra Canyon but said his plans have changed.

Dickerson also said Montclair Prep teammate Jerrel Harris will attend Price, too.

Joe Heredia is the new girls' basketball coach at Calabasas.

Heredia has been an asst. at Calabasas and Canyon.

Heredia replaces Therese Berner, who resigned.

Corey Hamashita is the new boys' basketball coach at Monroe High in North Hills.

Hamashita takes over for Nicholas Halic, who is now an asst. at Birmingham.

Monroe lost in the first round of the Div. III playoffs against Chatsworth last year.

Pierce College in Woodland Hills is the site for the "To the Rack Labor Day Showcase" Sept. 3 and 4.

Saturday Sept. 3
9 a.m., Westlake vs. Birmingham
10 a.m., Golden Valley vs. Sylmar
11 a.m., Thousand Oaks vs. Birmingham
12 p.m., Westlake vs. Bell-Jeff
1 p.m., La Verne Lutheran vs. Dorsey
2 p.m., Pasadena vs. El Camino Real
3 p.m, La Verne Lutheran vs. Notre Dame
4 p.m., Chaminade vs. Sierra Canyon
5 p.m., St. John Bosco vs. El Camino Real
6 p.m., Taft vs. Alemany
7 p.m., St. John Bosco vs. Chaminade
8 p.m. Taft vs. Calabasas

Court #2
1 p.m., Thousand Oaks vs. Golden Valley
2 p.m., Sierra Canyon vs. Bell-Jeff
3 p.m., Palmdale vs. Muir
4 p.m., Alemany vs. Dorsey
5 p.m. Palmdale vs. Canoga Park
6 p.m., Notre Dame vs. Muir

Sunday Sept. 4
Court #1
9am Sylmar v. Canoga Park
10am Bell-Jeff v. Muir
11am Birmingham v. Sylmar
12 p.m. Canoga Park v. Westlake
1pm Golden Valley v. Palmdale
2pm La Verne Lutheran v. Thousand Oaks
3pm Taft v. Pasadena
4pm Chaminade v. Dorsey
5pm Calabasas v. Pasadena
6pm Alemany v. St. John Bosco
7pm El Camino Real v. Calabasas
8pm Notre Dame v. Sierra Canyon

The high school football season begins in one week, and no one is more eager to make a new start than Newbury Park, coming off one of its worst seasons after going 3-7 including a surprising loss to lightly regarded Simi Valley in the finale.

Just one year earlier, Newbury Park had advanced to the Southern Section Northern Division quarterfinals, and two years before that, the Panthers were in the semi's.

"The one thing we're really trying to do is to get the kids more committed in the offseason and to be more physically prepared, because you can no longer just show up on Friday nights and expect to win - not in the Marmonte League," Newbury Park coach Gary Fabricius said. "When the competition gets tougher, like it did last year, you've got to get tougher right along with everyone else. Otherwise, you're going to get beat. It's that simple."

The Panthers open Sept. 2 at Buena in Ventura - four of the first five games are on the road - and a key is going to be the development of the Okun brothers . Quarterback Ben Okun is a junior, and offensive lineman Zach Okun is a touted 6-foot-2 ½, 280-pound freshman.

"Ben is clearly one of our best athletes, and he's also going to play free safety for us, too, because our numbers are low and we need him to play defense," Fabricius said. "Zach is a big kid with a great attitude, and we think he can be special."

These days, when a young lineman like Okun is developing, high school coaches know about him in junior high. More than one private school made a pitch for Okun to join, but he has remained loyal to his neighborhood school.

"It's always flattering when people want you to come to their school, but the Okun family, they told me straight out they're Newbury Park people," Fabricius said. "Their daughter went here and played sports and was a good student."

Linebackers Cayden Malpasuto and Michael DiFronzo are two top returnees, though DiFronzo is scheduled to miss a few weeks while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

"We've got a lot of juniors, so I told the kids that it might take a while, but we're going to be a lot better at the end of the season than the beginning of the season," Fabricius said. "Our numbers are down, but these are hard-working kids, and they're going to battle."

Danny Kelley, a first-year coach for Arleta, has been with former coach Jeff Engilman for a long time, first playing under Engilman at Sylmar beginning in 1989 and contining as Engilman's assistant for 15 years before finally taking over this season after Engilman retired.

However, Engilman is still on campus at Arleta for one more school year as a teacher before his retirement will be official, and Kelley, 37, does not expect his mentor to see too many differences in the football program - albeit as a friend and supporter and no longer Kelley's supervisor.

"I'm just trying to do exactly what he has been doing because Jeff Engilman is a tough act to follow," Kelley said. "I mean, I'm not trying to be him, but the practice schedules are still the same, and the offense and defense are still the same. The only thing missing is him."

Five schools from Southern California will be traveling to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational tournament hosted by Lahainaluna High Dec. 19-23.

Oaks Christian, Mission Viejo, Inglewood, Redondo Union and San Pedro will enjoy Winter vacation in beautiful Hawaii.

Mt. Si of Washington is also in the field with a school from Provo, Utah and a school from Alabama.

Each team will play four games and return before Christmas.

Here is the lineup for the Hercules Sports Management Mission Viejo Football Classic

Friday Sept. 2
Cypress vs. Garces (Bakersfield), 4:30 p.m.
Mission Viejo vs. Centennial (Bakersfield), 7:30 p.m.

Saturday Sept. 3
Bakersfield vs. Timpview (Utah), 11:15 a.m.
Crenshaw vs. Alta (Utah), 2:20 p.m.
Orange Lutheran vs. Bingham (Utah), 5:25 p.m.
Oaks Christian vs. Bellevue (Washington), 8:30 p.m.

Phil McCrumb is the new boys' basketball coach at Antelope Valley.

McCrumb previously was the girls' coach at Lancaster High.

It is official.

Andrew English has transferred from Alemany to Village Christian.

English is a 6-foot-5 junior forward and will join sophomores Bryan Alberts and Marsalis Johnson, who earlier transferred from Sierra Canyon.

Village Christian returns 6-foot-5 guard Marquis Salmon and coach Jon Shaw couldn't be happier about how his team is shaping up.

"This is very exciting for the school," Shaw said. "We haven't had this amount of talent in the 62-year history of the school."

Shaw indicated the Crusaders are in the process of beefing up the schedule and are only one or two more games away from finalizing things for this upcoming season.

Village Christian is in the Burbank tournament Nov. 28-Dec. 3 and is scheduled for showcase games against Pacific Hills Jan. 28 and Oaks Christian on a date to be determined.

Remember the character name Joe Pendleton, the star football player in the hit movie "Heaven Can Wait"? Well, there's a new Joe Pendleton, and he is quite a young prospect at Burbank.

Pendleton is a sophomore running back who is 5 feet 8 and 195 pounds, and he is coming off a frosh-team season that included more than 2,000 yards rushing.

"He runs a 4.6 40-yard dash, and he's just been unstoppable. He's had a very solid camp," Burbank coach Hector Valencia said. "We're hoping he is going to work out as our starting fullback."

After averaging more than 41 points a game last year, Valencia probably will not score as many touchdowns now that all-state running back Steven Manfro and ultra-productive quarterback Alex Bishop have graduated.

Nevertheless, the two-time Foothill League champion Vikings are still favored to three-peat, based on the return of several key defenders, notably All-Foothill League returnees Ryan Gorman (linebacker), Tedrick Thompson (defensive back) and Edmund Darko (defensive back).

Coach Larry Muir said he is also expecting a big year from defensive end Billy Shipman.

"We've got a lot of guys coming back but all new skill guys," Muir said.

Sean Murphy is the new quarterback, and he looked sharp during the summer. Cody Anciano and junior Jake Solley are competing at running back. Solley is the brother of former Valencia quarterback Dominic Solley, now playing baseball at Cal Lutheran.

The Vikings are 33-6 over the past three seasons while advancing to the Northern Division semifinals every year.

"We're trying to keep this thing going. We'll see what happens," Muir said.

Johnny Stuart, a three-star recruit from Westlake High who has offers from Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado, injured his kneecap Friday during practice, and the preliminary report is the tight end/defensive end will be out two to four weeks.

"I didn't sleep all Friday night. I don't know how serious it is. I will know more today," Westlake coach Jim Benkert said. "The left kneecap came out and came back in, according to our team doctor who was on the field. ... The doctor said it has happened before. Johnny is a tough kid."

Stuart, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound three-year starter, has helped Westlake to a 26-2 record over the past two seasons. As a junior, he had 68 tackles, five sacks and 10 pass deflections, and he also caught five passes.

"I feel terrible for him because he has worked so hard, and he's a stud on both sides of the ball. He's unbelievable," Benkert said. "So, from the standpoint of him, I feel terrible. Plus, his obvious contribution to the success of the football team is huge. We've got to get him back as soon as possible."

Eastside High has endured two losing seasons in a row, but the Lancaster program has received a boost with the addition of running back Kevin Peate, who has not played in two years following a promising season in 2008 on the frosh team.

"I guess he just wasn't motivated the past couple of seasons and got caught up in doing other things, but I'm telling you, the kid has some moves," Eastside coach Richard Lear said. "I'm glad Kevin came back out. He has looked good during the summer and has taken a few to the house in passing-league games.

"I guess he decided it's his senior year, and he wants to play. He has worked hard to get back into game shape."

The presence of Peate helps offset the loss of Dollarson Cato, who was expected to be Eastside's No. 1 tailback before transferring to Palmdale for his senior year. Last season, Cato scored three touchdowns, including a 96-yard punt return, and he rushed for 103 yards and had 14 receptions for 254 yards.

Eastside also has a couple of big blockers in Billy Smith, who is 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, and Adam Whalen, who is 6-4, 235 pounds.

"We've got two real tall, physical book ends, which is nice," Lear said.

Cody Cordell, a junior transfer from Oaks Christian, is emerging as Crespi's starting quarterback, winning the job over a field that started with six hopefuls, including promising 6-foot-4 sophomore Brad Kaaya.

The Crespi quarterback job is a plum gig because last year's starter, Kenny Stenhouse, broke the school single-season records for yardage (3,131) and touchdowns (32); two top-notch receivers are back, Chris Harper (60 receptions, 940 yards, seven touchdowns) and Mike Davison (56 receptions, 637 yards, six touchdowns) .

The Celts begin the season Sept. 2 at Dominguez -- one of the area's most attractive openers, as Crespi finished 8-4 last season in the Pac-5 Division, while the Dons went 10-2 in the Western Division.

A freshman to watch is Hart receiver Trent Irwin, who has won a starting spot after an impressive summer.

"He reminds us a lot of Ryan Wolfe when he played here," Hart coach Mike Herrington said. "Ryan Wolfe did some great things for us, and we're hoping Trent will do some great things for us, too."

There's a lively quarterback competition at Thousand Oaks between junior Clark Abourisk and senior Griffin Kramer, son of former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Erik Kramer.

Thousand Oaks coach Mike Leibin said Abourisk is slightly ahead, partly because Kramer has been slowed by an elbow injury.

"Clark makes all the throws we need him to make in our offense, and he is a very intelligent football player who understands the concepts and has good leadership qualities," Leibin said. "He leads by example and puts in the extra time. The kid goes above and beyond. Without anyone telling him to do so, he has started helping out our freshman quarterbacks. That's pretty impressive."

Among the key returnees is Blake Howell, a receiver/defensive back.

"He's been our best guy on both sides in seven-on-sevens," Leibin said. "He's our go-to guy on offense, and he's doing a good job at cornerback and strong safety."

Kevin Ervin, a top running back at Poly the past two seasons, received some major-college interests but instead is playing for Pierce College because of academic issues.

"I didn't have a high enough score on my SAT, but I'm going to take care of everything," Ervin said. "I'm starting all over again, and I'm going to do it the right way."

Ryan Seidler, a former Burbank linebacker who twice set the school's single-season tackling record, is playing at Concordia. He is the only Southern Californian on the roster.

Former Sierra Canyon girls' basketball coach T.J.Knox confirmed via text, Tori Wells is a late signee to Marshall in West Virginia.

Wells led Sierra Canyon to a quarterfinal appearance in Div. IV-AA this past season.

Several young players from the Mission League stood out Saturday at the eighth annual Slam Jam/californiapreps.com incoming sophomore and freshman showcase at Taft High Schoolin Woodland Hills.

Notre Dame's Ryan Ducar (freshman) may have made a name for himself the most.

Ducar registered a rare triple-double with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in a 105-74 victory against the La Canada Blazers.

Ducar received help from school teammate Cameron Glassen (22 points) and Chaminade's Dylan Cuenca (19 points and six assists).

Ducar then came back with a solid performance in a victory against a team comprised of players from Moorpark High.

Ducar scored 18 points and had five rebounds, three assists and five steals.

Harvard-Westlake sophomores Derrick Newton and Michael Sheng scored 22 and 19 points, respectively, in an 87-79 victory against Dreamvision/Vision Athletics 2015's.

Newton had 10 rebounds and Sheng made five 3-pointers with five assists.

Chaminade's Justin Eisen (sophomore) and St. Genevieve's Isaac Girley (sophomore) each scored 17 points in the Indepedent #2's 58-56 setback against Get Your Game Right All-Stars.

Crespi had two good looking freshman.

Sammy Linn and Justin Bessard. Linn poured in 14 points and had 14 rebounds and seven assists in a 70-57 victory against the La Canada Blazers.

Trey Dickerson experienced the heartbreak of Montclair Prep losing to rival Sierra Canyon in the Southern Section Div. V-A boys' basketball final last season.

Now, the former Mounties standout will attempt to help Sierra Canyon capture back-to-back championships during his senior season.

Dickerson, a 6-foot point guard, confirmed Friday that he'll be attending Sierra Canyon after Montclair Prep cut its athletic program in July.

Dickerson averaged 17.6 points, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals as a junior for Montclair Prep, which suffered a 48-45 overtime setback to Sierra Canyon in the Div. V-A title game.

Dickerson's enrollment helps Sierra Canyon overcome the roster vacancies created by the recent transfers of Bryan Alberts and Marsalis Johnson to Village Christian.

Dickerson is the latest Montclair Prep basketball player to solidify his status for the 2011-12 school year. Senior guard Amonte Dees is attending Cleveland, Amir Lugo-Rodriguez transferred to Salesian and baseball/basketball standout Max Fried will enroll at Harvard-Westlake in September.

Campbell Hall forward Cole Huff has a new top five list for where he will take his basketball talents next year.

Huff, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound senior, decommitted from San Diego State earlier in the summer.

Huff now lists UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Long Beach State, Nevada and Loyola Marymount.

UC Irvine and UC Riverside have made offers.

Stay tuned.....

There is no doubt Sierra Canyon will have a very good basketball team this season with Julian Brooks, Jesse Howell and junior point guard Jahmel Taylor.

However, imagine what the team could have accomplished had six super sophomores not left before ninth grade or transferred out.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Derrick Newton didn't stick around after junior high and enrolled at Loyola and Harvard-Westlake, respectively.

USC recruit Devin Burleson and guard Namon Wright left after a brief stay in September of 2010 and enrolled at Price before transferring to Pacific Hills in January of 2011.

Bryan Alberts and Marsalis Johnson recently left for Village Christian this week.

It could have been a possible nationally-ranked team.

Footnote: Former Montclair Prep guard Trey Dickerson decided Friday to attend Sierra Canyon.

Burleson and Wright are expected to transfer to Highland of Palmdale for this season.

Maxpreps.com has published its preseason rankings, and Oaks Christian is No. 23 in the Xcellent 25, and Alemany is No. 25 in the Freeman computer-generated rankings.

Here is the weekly lineup of football games televised by Time Warner Cable on channel 101.

Friday Sept. 2 Mater Dei vs. Carson
Friday Sept. 9 Venice vs. Chaminade
Friday Sept. 16 Thousand Oaks vs. Moorpark
Friday Sept. 23 Orange Lutheran vs. La Habra at Cerritos College
Friday Sept. 30 Serra vs. Narbonne
Friday Oct. 7 Oxnard vs. Ventura
Friday Oct. 14 Notre Dame vs. Crespi and La Costa Canyon vs. Carlsbad
Friday Oct. 21 Canyon vs. Valencia
Friday Oct. 28 Loyola vs. Bishop Amat
Friday Nov. 4 Garfield vs. Roosevelt at East L.A. College
Friday Nov. 11 Charter Oak vs. Chino Hills

Ryan Zirbel, Saugus' all-time leading rusher and scorer who played the past two seasons at College of the Canyons, is headed to NCAA Division III Cal Lutheran.

Andrew English, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, has checked out of Alemany.

Coach Tray Meeks confirmed the news Thursday.

English had played on varsity since his freshman year.

Could English be headed to Village Christian?

Stay tuned....

We should know more Friday.

Jason Hart, who replaced Derrick Taylor as Taft boys' basketball coach this summer, has been selected to coach an all-star team in the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event, scheduled for Aug. 27 in Venice Beach.

Hart, who will be assisted by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love and Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, has a roster that includes Orange Lutheran's Gabe York and Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas' Shabazz Muhammad, who is being recruited by UCLA.

Westlake junior Dashon Hunt, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound defensive back, has verbally committed to play football at UCLA.

Hunt, who had 60 tackles and seven interceptions as a sophomore, helped Westlake reach the Southern Section Northern Division final last season -- losing to rival Oaks Christian -- after the Warriors won the title in 2009.

Former El Camino Real star Ryan Lavarnway has been promoted to the Boston Red Sox, and will make his major league debut tonight against the Kansas City Royals.

The highly-touted catching prospect is expected to play with Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list.

Lavarnway has split time between AA and AAA this season. He has 30 home runs in 110 games.

Former Montclair Prep left-handed pitcher Max Fried has been admitted to Harvard-Westlake and will enroll in September.

Fried is headed to UCLA in September of 2012.

Fried led Montclair Prep to the Div. V quarterfinals last season and a semifinal appearance in 2010.

Pacific League rivals Glendale and Hoover always face off in the final week of the season, and they'll do so again this year Nov. 10 at Moyse Field. But the schools are also trying something different by playing one another in a nonleague opener Sept. 8 at Glendale.

"There's so much excitement for the game at the beginning of the season that we figured why not try to create some excitement in the beginning of the season, too," Glendale coach Alan Eberhart said.

In the West Valley League, Granada Hills (4-7 last year), Birmingham (2-8) and Cleveland (3-7) are looking to rebound, and with perennial power Taft (9-4) and last year's City Div. II finalist Chatsworth (11-3) both hit hard by graduation, the league is wide open.

Granada Hills returns 29 seniors, including quarterback Josh Szin and linebacker Victor Rabago, both of whom earned All-City recognition last season.

"We're pretty strong in terms of experience," coach Billy Parra said. "We looked good in passing league, and we looked good on the first day pads came on this week."

Cleveland returns most of its top players, including standout safety Miguel Garcia, top offensive lineman Naushad Bana and receiver/kicker Collin Liberty, who impressed as a freshman. Also, coach Vinnie Johnson is expecting a breakout season for junior quarterback Jamal Brown.

"Jamal is up from the JV, and it was his first year of football last year, so he took his bumps and bruises, but the kid is an athlete," Johnson said. "He can play anywhere on the field."

Birmingham struggled last year while switching quarterbacks three times, but this season the job belongs to junior Trae Smith, who worked his way into the rotation by the end of last season. Smith orchestrated a summer win over state-power Serra of Gardena, and Birmingham coach Jim Rose is impressed with the quarterback's upside.

"Plus, we have a really good returning receiver with Marcus Harris, who is 6-4, and we have a big offensive line that averages about 6-2, 270 pounds," Rose said.

BREAKING NEWS:

Village Christian athletic director Kevin Aust has confirmed sophomores Bryan Alberts and Marsalis Johnson have transferred from Sierra Canyon.

Both were outstanding freshman on a team that won the Div. V-A championship last season, in a victory against Montclair Prep.

Alberts is a 6'3 guard with a bright future and Johnson is a 6'7 forward scratchung the surface of stardom.

These two players instantly make Village Christian a contender.

"We think we can really provide a great enviornment, both academically and athletically, like we do for all of our students," Aust said.

Alberts and Johnson join talented senior Marquis Salmon.

After consecutive 3-7 seasons while failing to make the playoffs since 2008, San Fernando is primed for a comeback in the Valley Mission League.

The Tigers return promising running back Daemon Thompson, who rushed for 529 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore (including 171 against Van Nuys in the second-to-last game of the season), along with top blocker Tino Garcia. Plus, San Fernando's junior varsity went 10-0 last year, led by quarterback Javier Aguilar, who was the league's JV player of the year in 2010.

The Tigers are also high on sophomore defensive lineman Cruz Castillo, a 5-10, 215-pounder whom Hernandez said is "very hard to block and never takes a play off like other kids do."

Kennedy, Van Nuys and Canoga Park are among the Valley Mission League programs also expected to improve.

Kennedy has good size with returning linemen Adam Herrera (6-1, 260) and Cristian Sotelo (6-2, 260). The Golden Cougars need to replace graduate Jonathan Williams, who rushed for nearly 2,400 yards this past year, and coach Dion Lambert says if another running back can step up, Kennedy should be in good shape.

"Jonathan is gone, but most of the guys who blocked for him are back," Lambert said.
Davion Holloway, a returning all-league defensive back, will get a long look at tailback, along with junior Anthony Rivera, one of the fastest players on the team.

Van Nuys got a break when quarterback Iehanyi Obinna was granted a fifth year of eligibility after passing more nearly 1,700 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Coach Sean Pollard said Obinna, who is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, won a hardship appeal because of severe family problems, but the coach did not want to go into detail because of privacy reasons.

"He's real athletic, and I think he can be the best player in the league," Pollard said. "He's an amazing kid, and he's been through a lot. He is an amazing athlete, and UCLA is interested, though I don't know if he'll qualify."

All but one Van Nuys starter is back from last year's 3-7 team, including Jaymon Ortega, a top receiver/defensive back.

Canoga Park returns receiver/defensive back Randy Uzoma, one of the City Section's fastest players, along with quarterback Fabian Alomar, both of whom performed well in summer seven-on-seven tournaments against much tougher competition.

Flintridge Sacred Heart graduate Andrea Kropp captured a silver medal Tuesday in the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the World University Games in Shenzhen, China.

Kropp, a sophomore at Princeton, clocked a lifetime-best 2 minutes, 26.18 seconds to finish second behind China's Sun Ye (2:24.63). Japan's Satomi Suzuki took the bronze (2:26.67).

Kropp, representing Rattler Swim Club, captured her second straight 18-under title with a fourth-place finish (2:27.61) at the U.S. swimming national championships Aug. 6 at Stanford.

Desiring to see more playing time at catcher, Maddy Jelenicki has left Valencia and will attend Saugus, Valencia softball coach Donna Lee confirmed Monday.

Jelenicki, who split time at catcher with Penn State-bound Karlie Habitz along with playing second base during her freshman season, will look to gain immediate eligibility to compete for the reigning Foothill League champion Centurions instead of having to sit out a year of varsity competition or playing at the junior varsity level.

Jelenicki verbally committed to UCLA before she played her first game at Valencia. She hit .500 with eight home runs, 23 runs and 32 RBIs for the Vikings, who reached the Southern Section Div. I quarterfinals.

With the signing deadline looming at midnight Monday for Major League draft choices, Oaks Christian grad Travis Radke has turned down a $150,000 signing bonus -- plus $80,000 for college -- from the Cincinnati Reds to honor a letter-of-intent to play for University of Portland.

"It became clear that Portland was the better choice for my future," said Radke, a left-handed pitcher drafted in the 45th round. "I believe for me to make it to the 'show' one day, college is the appropriate route.

Fulton Prep, expected to be one of the City Section's top small-schools programs, is cancelling the football season because about nearly half he team is academically ineligible or has not been medically cleared, coach Sean Jackson said.

"It sucks. I'm disappointed," Jackson said. "We were going to be good. We had 40 kids, and now we're down to 17 or 18. A few couldn't play for medical reasons, a few couldn't play because they came in and said they had to work, and we have a double-digit amount of kids who aren't eligible because they never went to summer school like they were supposed to.

"Just about all of my top players are academically ineligible. That's crazy."

Jackson said the news will be official Monday.

"There's no saving it. I spoke to the vice-principal and the A.D. today," Jackson said. "We're done."

Aleksandr Abrams, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, has left Thousand Oaks High and enrolled at Oaks Christian.

Abrams, who has played with several Oaks Christian players on the Thousand Oaks-based Kings Basketball Academy club team, averaged 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks as a lower-level standout during his freshman year at Thousand Oaks.

"I'm very happy to have him," said Oaks Christian coach Andre Chevalier, who led the Lions to a Southern Section Div. IV-A title in March. "I'm excited about his presence in the middle for our team."

Abrams already posted on his beRecruited.com profile page: "I am looking forward to the 2011-12 season at Oaks Christian, go Lions!"

Amonte Dees, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, has enrolled at Cleveland after Montclair Prep cut its entire athletic program in July.

Dees averaged 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season for the Mounties, who reached the Southern Section Div. V-A boys' basketball final.

Former Montclair Prep forward Amir Lugo-Rodriguez has enrolled at Salesian, guard Trey Dickerson is still contemplating where he'll attend school and baseball/basketball standout Max Fried is deciding between attending Harvard-Westlake or early enrollment at UCLA, where has already verbally committed to play baseball.

Sam Murphy, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior lineman from Fairfield, Conn., has enrolled at Oaks Christian.

Murphy, who played for Ludlowe High School, adds to the list of impact transfers for Lions coach Bill Redell, along with quarterback Luke Falk, defensive back Malik Cyphers and linebacker Tyler Faanono.

Freshman Bennie Boatwright, a 6-foot-4 wing who was on the summer basketball roster at Canoga Park, has enrolled at Oaks Christian.

Boatwright, who missed part of the summer schedule with a knee injury, is a talented 3-point shooter who could add depth to the Lions' roster.

It was great to see former Taft quarterback Josh Portis Thursday on ESPN.

Portis led the Seattle Seahawks to a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter in an exhibition game against the San Diego Chargers.

Portis played at Taft for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Portis just turned 24 years old on July 14.

Portis went to three different high schools and three different colleges (Florida, Maryland, California-Pennsylvania) but has finally realized his dream.

Portis is battling Charlie Whitehurst for the backup spot behind starter Tavaris Jackson.

Ryan Murphy, a 5-foot-11 guard and incoming eighth-grader at Oaks Christian, was recently selected all-star game MVP in the eighth-grade division at the Junior Phenom Camp in San Diego.

Murphy, who had 24 points including three 3-pointers in the all-star game, has been evaluated as the No. 2 player in the eighth-grade class nationally behind National City's Justin Moore, according to The Hoop Scoop Online.

Murphy was selected MVP of the seventh-grade all-star game last year and evaluated as the No. 1 player in his class at the Junior Phenom Camp.

Murphy was also selected the MVP of the 13-14 division at the recent Michael Jordan camp in Santa Barbara.

Once Derrick Taylor left Taft for St. John Bosco, many thought Taft might not be the super power it has been for the past eight years.

Hold that thought.

New coach Jason Hart didn't inherit a bad team at all when he took over a few weeks ago.

And the team could be even better if rumors swiriling are true.

Multiple sources have confirmed Mater Dei's Shaqquan Aaron could be headed to the Woodland Hills campus, along with a freshman guard from Fremont of Los Angeles.

Stay tuned....

Things continue to get better for former Taft boys' basketball coach Derrick Taylor.

Taylor earlier confirmed standout brothers Isaac and Daniel Hamilton would be transferring in from Crenshaw, and now Taylor says freshman Malik Dorton from Fremont will be enrolling.

Dorton is 6'3, 180 and played very well in a City Section first round playoff game against Cleveland last year.

Derrick Taylor's presence at St. John Bosco following a successful tenure at Taft has attracted two of Southern California's elite boys' basketball prospects to transfer to the Bellflower school.

Isaac and Daniel Hamilton from Crenshaw have transferred to St. John Bosco, looking to help the Braves improve on a 21-9 record last year, when they advanced to the Southern Section Div. IV-AA quarterfinals.

Isaac, a junior, and Daniel, a sophomore, helped Crenshaw reach the City Section Div. I quarterfinals last season.

"It's great to build a program around superstars," Taylor said.

Montclair Prep isn't the only school in the region with major changes as September nears.

West Valley Christian has discontinued its high school. The West Hills campus will still operate its elementary and junior high.

Like Montclair Prep, West Valley Christian had recent success in boys' basketball.

The Falcons advanced to the Div. VI-A championship in 2010. The Falcons lost to Kilpatrick on the court but Kilpatrick was forced to forfeit the championship victory for using an ineligible player.

"It was pretty much a huge shock to all of us," former coach Brady Day said.

Day said declining enrollment and other factors were cited as reasons for dropping the high school.

Day has landed at Hillcrest Christian of Thousand Oaks. Day is the athletic director and boys' basketball coach.

Former West Valley Christian athletic director Ken Roupe is the new athletic director at Concordia West.

Concordia West is the new school name after the merger of Canoga Park Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran.

Two Sylmar-based high schools have also merged.

First Lutheran and L.A. Lutheran have combined and will now be called Concordia High.

Former Montclair Prep standout Eshaya Murphy scored a career-high 21 points Sunday to lead the Chicago Sky to an 88-69 victory against the Indiana Fever in a crucial WNBA game with playoff implications.

Murphy led the Mounties to the Div. V-AA championship in 2001, and then went to USC on scholarship.

Michael Oyelowo is the new girls' basketball coach at Cleveland High in Reseda.

Oyelowo coached the frosh/soph. boys' basketball last year at Cleveland.

Oyelowo replaces Cara Blumfield, who took the job at El Camino Real Charter High.

We have a handful of high school football correspondents returning to cover high school football games in the fall, but are looking for a few more responsible people. Those who have covered high school football games before or are studying journalism are ideal. Or, if you have a passion for writing and football, that works too. If interested, feel free to contact me at jack.pollon@dailynews.com.

The season is just around the corner.

William "Woody" Cook, an incoming freshman, will be attending Oak Park this year.

Cook is one of the top young players in Southern California.

The Chaminade girls' volleyball team should be a contender in the Mission League this year.

Sydney Wright is back at the outside hitter position and is being recruited by UC Irvine.

Coach Mike Del Homme has four top juniors.

Molly Griffin, Catherine Grimes, Hailey Hunter and Ava Rezai.

The Eagles lost Reagan Clark to Oak Park and Rio Morigi to Marymount but picked up Kristin Hijazin from La Reina.

Crespi is shifting away from its classic brown-and-white look by adding gold to its color scheme with new uniforms this season.

Paso Robles, a large, public Southern Section school on the Central Coast, might cut football if $100,000 is not raised -- fast, by the beginning of the season.

Can this happen in the Southland? Let's hope not, but in the aftermath of Montclair Prep cutting all athletics, anything is possible.

With only a few weeks before a September 2 season opener against Golden Valley, Lance Martin has walked away as football coach at Simi Valley.

A source revealed Martin was transferred to a junior high school for his teaching position by the Simi Valley Unified School District.

Martin previously coached at Calabasas.

Ryan Taggert has been named interim coach.

Alemany freshman Nia Britt set a national youth record in the 6-pound shot put Friday at the AAU Junior Olympic Games to capture the title in New Orleans.

Britt, representing Valley United Track Club, unleashed a throw of 51 feet, 6 1/4 inches to smash the previous standard of 49-8 1/4 set in 2003 by Kamorean Hayes.

Britt's effort was nearly a four-foot improvement from her winning effort Sunday of 47-10 1/2 at the U.S. Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Wichita, Kan.

The Taft High football team is getting ready for the 2011 season and new coach Chris Rizzo thinks the Toreadors can win the West Valley League championship.

Rizzo took over for Matt Kerstetter in the spring and is learning a few things himself.

"I am more involved with the offense than ever before and all the administrative stuff is new," Rizzo said.

The line will be a question mark but Taft has plenty of top skill position players.

Anthony Fowler and juniors Devon Hawkins and Mizan Bright could be dangerous winde receivers.

Fowler trasnferred from Chaminade during last season but wasn't eligible until week 10.

Hawkins is 6'3 and 180 pounds.

"He is a legit Div. I guy," Rizzo said of Hawkins.

New quarterback Jake Dashnaw has big shoes to fill and hefty expectations.

Dashnaw has the bloodlines to get the job done.

Dashnaw's brother Chad was the quarterback at Narbonne.

The Toreadors were dealt a blow when Leroy Hicks was injured during summer competition and the running back duties could fall to Dimitray Lewis.

The defense will be led by cornerback Patrick Wells, who is being recruited by Fresno St., New Mexico St. and UC Davis.

The schedule is loaded with games against Dorsey, Notre Dame, Crespi, Saugus, and road trip to Utah to play Alta at Real Salt Lake stadium.

Taft will leave Thursday Sept. 22, play Saturday Sept. 24 and return home on Sunday.

In the wake of Golden Valley football coach Andy Campbell resigning Monday just a month before the season opener, Robert Fisher is taking over as interim coach, and a final decision by principal Sal Frias is expected next week.

Fisher, also the school athletic director, has served as the team's offensive coordinator the past two seasons.

"I absolutely want to be the coach," Fisher said. "I've been with the kids all summer long. It's our dead period right now, but we still had a good turnout this morning for weight-lifting."

Fisher, the fourth coach in the program's seven-year history, said he does not expect any of the assistants to leave. The first game is Sept. 2 against Simi Valley.

Golden Valley is 0-24 all-time in the Foothill League with all but one loss by 13 points or more.

New coach Sherry Higgins has L.A. Baptist on the fast track.

The first year varsity head coach has seniors Monet McNally and Katie Ortiz returning but is very excited about freshman Cheyanne Wallace, Abigail Troy and Keilani Conner.

Higgins also said Cailin Reid has transferred from Montclair Prep and the Knights could be getting one or two more transfers from the Van Nuys-based school, which recently cut athletics.

Wallace averaged 12 points and six blocks during summer competition.

Things will get even better the following year when Higgins will have the opportunity to coach her daughter, Valerie.

Valerie Higgins has checked in for eighth grade at the North Hills campus and could be the regions top freshman for 2012-2013.

McNally is being recruited by UC Irvine, according to Sherry Higgins.

Higgins isn't shying away from playing tough games next year.

The Knights are scheduled to play Bell-Jeff Jan. 28 at the Oaks Christian showcase.

After succeeding in eight-man football for three seasons - winning a City Section title in 2007 and finishing as a semifinalist in 2008, then a runner-up in 2009 - Fulton Prep took its licks in its first 11-man season last year, finishing 2-8 as participation dwindled to 15 players at one point.

No way it's happening again, coach Sean Jackson promises.

"We're not going 2-8, maybe flip flop it to 8-2 or 9-1," Jackson said. "Now I have a full team, 40 players, and I have a quarterback this year, Johnny Perez, who's just a natural. He's 6-foot-2 and can really sling it. He's a really athletic kid."

Jackson said he has met with every big student he could find on campus and implored them to try out for the football team.

"When they say they've never played football, I ask them why not?" Jackson said. "I tell 'em they get to bang people for free, and nine out of 10 come out. I tell them if they don't like it, they don't have to come back, but most of them have latched on."

Former Oaks Christian and Florida star Duke Lemmens has signed a free agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Following a 4-2 setback Monday night, Simi Valley's 14-under baseball all-star team rebounded Tuesday to defeat Chula Vista North 1-0 in the PONY Super Regionals in Whittier.

Chula Vista North had defeated Diamond Bar 12-4 earlier Tuesday to set up the showdown against Simi Valley.

Simi Valley (13-1) joins Long Beach in advancing to the eight-team PONY West Zone tournament, beginning Friday in Whittier against Milliani, Hawaii.

With the high school football season looming in one month, Andy Campbell has resigned as head coach of Golden Valley, citing family reasons.

He is the third Golden Valley coach in the school's six-year history, and the Grizzlies are still searching for their first Foothill League victory.

Campbell was 3-17 over two years, including 3-7 last season

He did not return a phone call seeking comment. In an e-mail, Campbell asked for privacy and wrote he would "not have any further comments."

Former USC and Sylmar High product C.J. Gable has signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints.

Darryl Stewart has transferred from Taft to Chaminade.

Stewart will be a 10th grader this upcoming year.

Stewart will join Jaron Martin, Jack Williams and Justin Eisen to help the Eagles in the Mission League.

Stewart saw limited action for Taft, the defending City Section Div. I champion.

Anthony January, who briefly played at Compton last year, and was rumored to go to Taft in the spring has filled out paperwork to join new coach Derrick taylor at St. John Bosco.

January has not been accepted, according to Taylor.

"He is trying to get into school," Taylor said. "He is in the application process."

Harvard-Westlake runner and soccer standout Cami Chapus was recognized by Cal-Hi Sports as the state's Div. III female athlete of the year, as well as California's junior female athlete of the year.

Campbell Hall tennis star Sabrina Santamaria, a USC signee, was selected the state's Div. IV female athlete of the year.

Simi Valley runner Sarah Baxter was named the state's freshman female athlete of the year.

Harvard-Westlake runner Amy Weissenbach, the Gatorade national girls' track and field athlete of the year, received honorable mention junior class recognition.

Valencia golfer Alison Lee received honorable mention sophomore class accolades.

Oaks Christian's Crystal Owusu, who shined in basketball and track, received Div. IV honorable mention honors.

For the full list of Cal-Hi Sports' female honorees, go to Cal-Hi Sports

Jerico Richardson, a receiver/defensive back for Alemany and also a standout basketball player, has been offered a UCLA football scholarship.

2012 Nike Extravaganza

: At the Meruelo Athletic Center on the Mater Dei campus

: Friday Feb. 3, 2012

: 3:00 PM Fairmont Prep (Boys) vs La Quinta (Boys)
: 4:30 PM Rialto (Girls) vs Rosary (Girls)
: 6:00 PM Orange Lutheran (Girls) vs Oaks Christian (Girls)
: 7:30 PM Mater Dei (Boys) vs St. John Bosco (Boys)
: 9:00 PM Mater Dei (girls) vs Windward (Girls)

:
: Saturday February 4, 2012

: Boys Morning Session

: 8:30 AM Colony vs JSerra
: 10:00 AM Upland vs Los Alamitos
: 11:30 AM Ocean View vs Mission Viejo

: Boys Evening Session

: 1:00 PM Fairfax vs Eisenhower
: 3:00 PM Westchester vs Capistrano Valley
: 4:30 PM Taft vs Loyola
: 6:00 PM Long Beach Poly vs Orange Lutheran
: 7:30 PM Mater Dei vs Lincoln ( San Diego)
: 9:00 PM Bishop Gorman vs Whitney Young (IL)

North Valley's 7-under baseball all-star team defeated Orangecrest 5-1 in Sunday's final of the 24-team PONY Shetland Southern California World Series in West Covina.

North Valley (18-4) advanced to the final with a 2-1 victory Saturday over Orangecrest.

Hart's 10-under baseball all-star team defeated Aiea, Hawaii, by 10-1 and 8-1 scores over the weekend at the PONY Mustang West Zone tournament in Los Alamitos, securing a return berth in the Mustang World Series.

Hart (19-2), the defending 10-under World Series champion, begins pool play Wednesday in Burleson, Texas, against North Zone champion St. Joe's of Joliet, Ill.

West Hills' 12-under baseball all-star team advanced to the PONY Bronco West Zone tournament championship game in Whittier with a 7-3 victory Sunday over Ventura.

West Hills (15-1) will play Temecula at 5 p.m. Monday. West Hills already defeated Temecula 16-0 on Saturday.

A victory would allow West Hills to advance to the Bronco World Series, which begins Thursday in Monterey.

Mid-Valley Thoroughbred defeated Camarillo 14-5 in the final of the Mustang 9-under West Zone tournament. Mid-Valley Thoroughbred (16-4) won all four games in the eight-team tournament and Camarillo (11-2) won three of four.

Simi Valley's 14-under baseball all-star team reached the championship game of the PONY Super Regional in Whittier. Simi Valley (12-0), which defeated High Desert 14-8 to reach the final, will face Long Beach at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The top two teams from the Super Regional advance to the eight-team PONY West Zone tournament, which begins Thursday in Whittier.