Daily News High School Spotlight

HS FOOT: Notre Dame's Crist to attend quarterback fest

Tue, 20 May 2008 10:48:07 -0800

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

HS FOOT: Thousand Oaks' Allred fields late offer

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:55:20 -0800

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

HS BASE: Is that a two-headed coin or what?

Mon, 19 May 2008 10:22:52 -0800

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 softball

Fri, 16 May 2008 21:09:13 -0800

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."

HS FOOT: Rosamond DB stabbed to death at party

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:33:12 -0800

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

HS FOOT: Newbury Park's Brown offered by Washington, Portland State

Wed, 14 May 2008 17:28:59 -0800

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

HS HOOPS: Jailed Chatsworth girls' JV coach awaiting fate

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:06:23 -0800

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

Softball: Sylmar, Two Outs Away From Advancing, Loses In Quarterfinals

Tue, 13 May 2008 22:17:37 -0800

Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo bound Rebecca Patton wasn't exactly stellar last week giving up eight hits in a second round victory against San Fernando and she didn't seem very sharp in the first inning against host Sylmar in a City Section quarterfinal game Tuesday afternoon.

Patton gave up three singles for a run and unlike last week when her teammates scored six runs, they couldn't scratch together any runs to get her off the hook.

Until the seventh inning.

The Highlanders (23-11), down to its final two outs, strung together five straight hits including a game tying RBI triple from Joanna Meir and a two run single from leadoff hitter Geri Jensen to stun No. 4 Sylmar 4-1.

Granada Hills moves on to Mondays semifinals against top-seed San Pedro at South Gate Park.

"The pressure was on in the back of my head but I just said to myself I have to find the right pitch," Meir said.

Find the right pitch was exactly what she did. Meir's triple to right center tied the game and took the pressure off everyone else.

Farah Saleh doubled to score Meir, Christain Carbajal singled and Jensen came thorough with a base hit to give Patton more than enough wiggle room.

Patton went the distance yielding one run on four hits with nine strikeouts and a walk. Patton also got out of a two on, no out jam in the sixth, retiring Valerie Prendiz on a foul pop out and striking out Akron-bound Crystal Hernandez and Karla Lira.

"When we hadn't scored any runs I just was thinking don't give up any more runs," Patton said. "I knew we would pull through. We were all playing with heart."

Marshall-bound shortstop Alianna Telles had an RBI single for Sylmar (23-10 but the Spartans only had one hit and three runners on base in the last six innings.

The game could have dramatically changed in the bottom of the sixth when Sylmar squandered runners at second and third with nobody out but couldn't score.

"The girls reached down deep in their hearts and put it on the field," Granada Hills coach Carolyn Gunny said. "They opened the tool chest and fixed it today."

Alex Alba pitched all seven innings for Sylmar giving up four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and a walk. She only gave up one hit and one walk in the first 6 1/3 innings.

Boys Basketball: Five Locals In Loaded Fairfax Summer Tournament

Tue, 13 May 2008 21:56:58 -0800

The annual Nike Fairfax tournament is always one of the best summer events on the West Coast.

2008 will be no exception as 16 teams hit the hardwood June 24-29.

Here is the schedule:

Westchester vs. Dorsey, Wed. June 25, 5:50 p.m.
Loyola vs. Pasadena, Tue. June 24, 4:30 p.m.
Harvard-Westlake vs. Santa Monica, Tue. June 24, 5:50 p.m.
Crespi vs. Mater Dei, Wed. June 25, 8:30 p.m.

Dominguez vs. Leuzinger, Tue. June 24, 7:10 p.m.
Taft vs. Long Beach Poly, Wed. June 25, 4:30 p.m.
Campbell Hall vs. Orange Lutheran, Tue. June 24, 8:30 p.m.
Fairfax vs. La Canada, Wed. June 25, 7:10 p.m.

There should be a slew of talented players in this excellent showcase of teams and talent.

Boys Volleyball: No. 9 El Camino Real Reaches Championship Game

Tue, 13 May 2008 21:53:41 -0800

With Sylmar leading No. 9 El Camino Real of Woodland Hills 18-12 in the first game of a City Section boys volleyball semifinal match Tuesday night, Sylmar assistant principal Casey Browne was overheard in the lobby saying, "These guys aren't better than Venice, we could be out of here in three games."

Browne was correct.

Except the No. 9 Conquistadores (12-5) came back to win game one and went on to a surprising 26-24, 25-23, 25-21 sweep of the Spartans that earned itself a berth in Saturdays championship match against Palisades of Pacific Palisades at Cal St. Northridge.

David Reynaga had 41 assists to lead El Camino Real and said, "This is unbelieveable. First time ever for us. We honestly did not expect this."

Sophomore Mikel Du Boise had 14 kills and Scott Wolfson added 10 kills for the Conquistadores, who had all the momentum on its side after narrowly winning the first two games.

Sylmar was definitely down on its luck losing the first two games and falling behind 13-8 in game three. The Spartans (21-6) trailed 24-17 before scoring four straight points but 6'10 Tyler Honeycutt's kill attempt was blocked and fell on Sylmar's side to end the match.

Honeycutt, who has blossomed this spring as a national prospect in basketball had 18 kills, 16 digs and five blocks.

"I didn't think I would dig Honeycutt as much as I did," Reynaga said. "He is a great player and hits so many balls over our blocks. Our underclassmen really stepped up tonight."

"Our coach kept telling us that the we are the underdog and the New York Giants won the Super Bowl, so you never know what can happen."

Gisear Alcantara had 29 digs for El Camino Real and Felipe Garcia had 27 assists for Sylmar.

HS HOOPS: Chaminade coach Cantwell resigns

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:37:01 -0800

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

HS BASE: Crespi seeded No. 1, Notre Dame No. 2 in D3 playoffs

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:17:25 -0800

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

HS HOOPS: Taylor-made honor for ex-Harvard-Westlake coach

Mon, 12 May 2008 09:19:13 -0800

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

HS BASE: Southern Section playoff pairings to be announced

Mon, 12 May 2008 08:27:34 -0800

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

Boys Basketball: Taft's Bryce Smith Going To San Diego St.

Fri, 09 May 2008 17:34:10 -0800

Bryce Smith, a 6'3 sharpshooting three point specialist from City champion Taft of Woodland Hills will be attending San Diego St. next season.

Smith had a scholarship offer from Air Force but ultimately decided to stay closer to home.

Smith will be a walk-on his first year with a good chance of earning a scholarship for his last three years.