Gerry Gittelson: May 2008 Archives

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Wednesday that would have released jailed Chatsworth High girls' junior-varsity basketball coach Andre LaBeach, who is being held since April 1 on felony sex charges, the 22-year-old coach will have to wait a bit longer.

LaBeach's new attorney, Scott Brown, of Woodland Hills, needs more time to weigh an offer from the district attorney's office to settle the case, which has been put over until June 2.

"It's winding down. I just have to take a look at a couple of things," said Brown, who added that a key issue is whether both sides can settle on a felony conviction or a misdemeanor.

Brown, a family friend who said he is not charging a fee, has replaced public defender Meredith Schensul.

"I personally know Andre LaBeach. He coached my daughter, Robyn, for two years," Brown said. "He is a good kid who made a foolish, stupid mistake. He's a great coach, and this should not ruin his life."

LaBeach is charged with four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor at least three years younger. Held in lieu of $80,000 bail, LaBeach could face up to five years in prison plus a fine, according to Deputy District Attorney Alisanne Skolnik.

Skolnik refused comment Wednesday.

A large group of supporters for LaBeach attended the hearing Wednesday.

Brown said LaBeach plans to return to college and get his degree.

"This is his first time in jail, and in the beginning he was a little shell-shocked," Brown said.

LaBeach is a former basketball player at Cleveland High of Reseda.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Chaminade head boys' coach Bryan Cantwell has resigned to pursue being an administrator, according to an email from school A.D. Andy Williamson. Also, the school is looking for a new baseball coach now that interim coach Jim Milkovich is finished with the season. Information: 818-347-8997 or awilliamson@chaminade.org.

Chaminade's basketball team finished 13-15 this past season -- the first sub-.500 season in three years - and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Cantwell, 36, wasn't available for comment, but Crespi head coach Russell White, one of Cantwell's best friend, said he saw this coming.

"I was not surprised, Bryan has thought about it for a while," White said. "He has talked about it off and on for a couple of years."

Cantwell plans to remain at Chaminade as an administrator.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

As suspected, Mission League rivals Crespi and Notre Dame were handed respect by the Southern Section seeding committee, as Crespi is seeded No. 1 and the Knights No. 2 in the Div. III playoffs beginning Thursday; both play wild-card winners.

Hart is seeded No. 3 in the Div. I and plays host to Westlake in the first round.

We'll have complete coverage in the Daily News tomorrow.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

It's a big day today for Brian Taylor, former girls' coach at Harvard-Westlake who is the current principal and head boys' coach at View Park Prep in L.A.

The small charter school is scheduled to be receive the "Character Counts" outstanding school award, according to representative from Inner City Education Foundation.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

The Southern Section playoff pairings are scheduled to be released today around noon, and it will be interesting to see where Crespi will be ranked in D3. The Celts were eighth in the latest official Southern Section poll -- way too low considering their more respectful treatment by maxpreps, Cal-Hi Sports, the Daily News and the L.A. Times -- but that was before Crespi twice defeated top-ranked Notre Dame on Tuesday and Thursday to clinch the Mission League title.

If Crespi is ranked anywhere lower than No. 2, the whole thing is silly. We shall see. Call me a homer, but Notre Dame probably should be a top-four seed, too, especially if Crespi had been ranked higher as it should have been. (I checked with the CIF, and second-place teams can be seeded as high as No. 2. overall.)

Also, in DI, it will be interesting to see how much weight the Foothill League title carries for Hart, which probably deserves a top-four seed even though the Indians are No. 6 in the most recent poll. And Marmonte League co-champs Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks deserve a proper seed, too.

Meantime, the City Section still has business to take care of with the regular season scheduled to finish Wednesday.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

With the Mission League baseball title on the line in extra innings in front of an overflow crowd of about 700, Crespi High of Encino's Zack Wiley swears there were no jitters as he stepped to bat with a chance to knock in the winning run.

"I don't get nervous. I was actually pumped," Wiley said. "I was pretty calm and was actually laughing because we were joking around."

What's to be nervous about, anyway? Wiley pulled a curveball from David Armendariz into left field for a clean single, and Jeremy Rodriguez raced home from second for the winning run in a 6-5 eight-inning victory over arch-rival Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks at L.A. Valley College.

The win, Crespi's eighth in a row, propelled the defending league-champion Celts (22-5, 11-1) to their third league title over the past five years.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Heading into the regular-season finale today, fourth-place Harvard-Westlake (13-12, 4-7) has a one-game lead over Alemany (11-15, 3-8) for the league's final playoff berth.

If Harvard-Westlake loses today to St. Francis, coupled with a victory by Alemany over Loyola, then Harvard-Westlake plays Alemany on Friday in a special tie-breaker to determine which team qualifies for the Southern Section Div. III playoffs. The site would be determined by coin flip.

"Well, obviously we have to find a way to get this done and win the game," Harvard-Westlake coach Matt LaCour said. "There isn't much that needs to be said. Our guys understand the importance of this game, and they have to go out and play."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

After coming from 10 runs down Friday to defeat Rio Hondo Prep 15-13, then coming back from a six-run deficit Tuesday in a 7-6 victory over Providence, defending Div. VII finalist Viewpoint has clinched its third consecutive Liberty League title.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

DAILY NEWS TOP 10
1. Crespi (22-5)
2. Notre Dame (23-2)
3. Hart (19-6)
4. Chatsworth (22-5)
5. Thousand Oaks (18-9)
6. Valencia (19-6)
7. Simi Valley (19-8)
8. Saugus (15-8)
9. Quartz Hill (17-5-2)
10. Camarillo (18-6)
OTHERS: Royal (18-8); Cleveland (21-6-1); C. Valley (16-5); Palmdale (15-10); Loyola (16-12); N. Park (16-12); Westlake (14-12); Moorpark (17-10).

Chris Long is the new football coach at Hoover, replacing Dennis Hughes, fired in January after finishing 0-10 this past season.

Long was head coach at Western Christian the past two seasons.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Crespi's Tyler Johnson earned his 19th career pitching victory without a loss Tuesday, and the Celts really needed it this time.

The senior right-hander turned in a masterful performance in a 2-1 victory over Mission League rival Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks before an overflow crowd of about 700 at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa, and the victory forged a tie for first place heading into Thursday's finale between the arch rivals at L.A. Valley College.

Crespi is 21-5, 10-1, and Notre Dame is 22-3, 10-1, and the winner Thursday wins the league title outright and probably will be granted the top seed in the Southern Section Div. III playoffs beginning May 16.

Johnson, who allowed three hits and one unearned run with seven strikeouts in six innings, is 9-0 this season after finishing 8-0 as a junior and 2-0 as a sophomore. He outpitched left-hander Nik Rodarte (8-1), who had won 11 in a row since last season.

"I knew it was going to be a game like this with two of the top pitchers in the Mission League," Johnson said. "We battled and just got enough key hits. This one felt big."

Sean Gilmartin retired Notre Dame in order in the seventh for his ninth save, one shy of his school record of 10 set last season.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Good start for Crespi. The Celts scored two runs in the top of the first off Notre Dame ace Nik Rodarte, cashing in on RBI singles by Jeremy Rodriguez and Zack Wiley.

Rodarte (8-0) has won 11 in a row since his junior year, and his last loss happened to be a 5-3 defeat to Crespi on May 1, 2007.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Dan Howell, a former Hart and University of Washington linebacker, signed Monday as a free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. His agent is Joe Aloisi, a former Hart booster club president who also oversees the career of Hart/Oregon State alum Matt Moore, a quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Here's the moment we've been waiting for: Notre Dame vs. Crespi, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 by the Daily News, begin a two-game series to finish the Mission League season beginning tonight at 7 at Birmingham in Lake Balboa.

It will be Crespi right-hander Tyler Johnson (8-0), who is 18-0 all-time, vs. Notre Dame left-hander Nik Rodarte (8-0), as Crespi must win both games to steal the league title away from the Knights, who are undefeated in league competition.

Already a good amount of folks here getting ready for this one. Should be a good one.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Tony Goebel is the latest Crespi player to commit to four-year school, as the designated hitter is headed to San Francisco State. Goebel is batting .293 as the team's starting designated hitter.

"We lived in San Francisco for seven years, so it feels like home to him," said his father, Larry Crino.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Harry Welch, who won five section titles and one state title at Canyon before winning a section title in his first season this past December at St. Margaret's in San Juan Capistrano, is recovering from heart surgery Friday in La Jolla to repair Arrhythmia, which caused an irregular heartbeat,

Welch, 63, known as one of the area's toughest taskmasters in his day, is in good spirits.

"For all those people all those years who said I didn't have a heart, I now have emperical evidence that I do," Welch said with a smirk. "The doctor said I should take a week and a half off, but I said three days. I thought that was a good compromise."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Jordan Barrett's star continues to rise. The junior linebacker from Notre Dame already has secured two DI offers -- from Notre Dame and Washington -- and a lot of others are heating up on the 6-2 1/2, 225-pounder who runs a 4.6 40-yard dash and totaled 90 tackles this past season.

He's a four-star recruit on scout.com

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

image from scout.com

Mike Moustakas, who set California's all-time career home run record at Chatsworth before joining the Royals organization last year as the No. 2 pick overall, is on a hot streak after a slow start.

The bonus baby has two home runs over his past three games at single-A Burlington (Iowa) and has raised his average to .210 with three home runs and seven RBIs (five over past six games) in 100 at-bats.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Oaks Christian tight end Chris Coyle has been offered a scholarship by Army, according to scout.com. The junior has also been offered by Boise State.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

image courtesy scout.com

In what's proved an otherwise forgettable season, last-place Agoura can play spoiler Wednesday against Simi Valley (19-8, 10-3) in the Marmonte League finale.

Agoura is just 9-18, 2-11 but has won four of its past five including its only two league victories -- a streak that has come just a bit too late to qualify for the Southern Section playoffs as one of the league's top four teams.

But the Chargers can really do a number on Simi Valley, which is tied for first with Thousand Oaks (18-9, 10-3). Both have to win the finale, as Thousand Oaks plays at fourth-place Moorpark (17-10, 6-7), which is fighting for a playoff spot of its own.

Should be compelling, and that's for sure.

DAILY NEWS TOP 10
1. Notre Dame (21-2)
2. Crespi (18-5)
3. Hart (18-6)
4. Chatsworth (20-5)
5. Thousand Oaks (17-9)
6. Valencia (17-6)
7. Simi Valley (18-7)
8. Saugus (15-8)
9. Royal (18-7)
10. Cleveland (20-6-1)

OTHERS: Crescenta Valley (14-5); Palmdale (14-10); Loyola (14-12); El Camino Real (16-10-1); Camarillo (17-6); Quartz Hill (17-5-2); Westlake (13-11); Moorpark (16-9).

Just got a scoop from Canyon High: Offensive lineman Justin Wallace and linebacker/safety Jonathan Hammock have committed to Graceland University in Iowa, an NAIA school.

Also, excpect a top City Section prospect to transfer to Canyon soon. I'll publish the name when it's official.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Antelope Valley made slow but steady improvement last season under first-year coach Brett Pape -- the Antelopes finished 4-6 but for the second consecutive year failed to qualify for the playoffs -- but things are looking up for a program that once was among California's most feared.

Returning quarterback Michael Davis has received a DI offer from Army, and talented junior running back Joey Vercher has transferred in from West Adams Prep in L.A.

"It's Davis' first offer, and Army runs the same option offense we do," said Pape, a former sports reporter at the AV Press of all things. "He just works his butt off, and the fact Army wants him is an indication of the kind of kid he is, a top student. I'm pretty proud of him."

Vercher is a 5-7, 170-pounder with breakaway speed who figures to get a long look.

"I don't know that much about Vercher, but he's real stocky and real shifty. We're excited to have him," Pape said.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Just got off the phone with Ed McSweeney, father of Crespi submarine pitcher E.C. McSweeney, and he has confirmed that E.C. has committed to a UC Irvine baseball scholarship -- the 12th (no misprint) Crespi on this year's team to commit to a four-year college.

"I'm excited and pleased," Ed said. "It's a great school academically, and the baseball team is ranked No. 7 in the nation, so it's the best of both worlds."

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com