June 2008 Archives
Josh Hill is the new Rim of the World athletic director, Rim principal Steve Byerly said.
Hill replaces Dave Ochs, who has retired as A.D. after 28 years in that position. Ochs has not retired from the district, but has decided not to coninue as the A.D.
Hill's position will be entitled "assistant principal/athletic director" said Byerly, who said Hill will spend roughly 75 percent of his time as the A.D., 20 percent on testing and about five percent on miscellaneous duties such as discipline.
Byerly is optimistic about Hill's future contributions to the athletic program.
"He's very inventive and clever," Byerly said. "He's also very meticulous and upbeat and will bring a sophisticated, professional approach with him."
Hill has been an English teacher at Rim and has been involved in the soccer program in the past.
-John Murphy
909-386-3853
berdooman@aol.com
www.insidesocal.com/sb/prepdog
Redlands High senior offensive tackle Brock Morris has received his second scholarship offer, this one from UC Davis, reported Terriers assistant coach John Peale.
Peale, by email, said Aggies coach Bob Biggs and assistant coach Greg Chapia made the offer this weekend at the UC Davis camp.
Bloomington High graduating third baseman Anissa Young has been named to the calhisports.com first-team all-state softball squad.
She was also The Sun All-County Player of the Year. She hit 14 home runs this season and had between 38 and 40 for her career (an exact total is unavailable). She was the two-time Sunkist League MVP and will attend LSU in the fall on a softball scholarship.
Young was the only player from the greater San Bernardino area to make the first team.
Other first-teamers were Norco junior pitcher Teagan Gerhart, Corona infielder Meredith Hackett and Corona Santiago utility player Kamerin May.
Making the second team were Victor Valley junior infielder Barthinia Bates, who hit .765; Corona senior infielder Jackie Serna; and Ayala junior infielder Nani St. Germain.
Earning all-state underclassmen first-team mention were: Vista Murrieta catcher Taylor Edwards, Norco's Gerhart; Victor Valley's Bates; Ayala's St. Germain; Corona's Brianna Turang; and Corona Santiago's Kamerin May.
Making the all-state underclassmen second team were: Norco outfielder Nicole Sappington and Vista Murrieta utility player Tatum Edwards.
No area players made the all-state team for medium-sized schools.
Earning all-state small schools were: Calvary Chapel Murrieta pitcher Tory Ferreira, San Jacinto pitcher Melanie Nichols and Riverside Christian infielder Sterling Hoham.
Riverside Christian's Art Lilly was the state small-school coach of the year.
Claremont High School baseball coach Mike Lee has been fired as coach, Wolfpack athletic director Rick Dutton said today.
Beyond that, there is nothing coming out of the school or school district.
"He's been relieved of his duties," Dutton said. "He's no longer the coach - that's all I can tell you."
Dutton then referred me to Devon Freitas, the assistant superintendent of personnel for the Claremont Unified School District.
A call was placed to Freitas and answered by a secretary. Informed the call regarded Lee and the reason for his dismissal, the secretary excused herself.
A woman, who did not provide her full name, then picked up the phone and said "There is no comment. It's a personnel matter and not for public discussion."
Then she hung up.
Obviously, the dismissal of Lee as baseball coach at Claremont is a sensitive topic in Claremont.
Claremont is now advertising for a new coach. Lee was its fourth coach in as many years.
Prior to Claremont, Lee resigned from the Westlake High job early in the 2007 season. Before that, he coached at Santa Paula and Newbury Park high schools.
Dutton also said Annie Lawrie is the new girls volleyball coach at Claremont. She replaces Sean Douglas. Lawrie formerly coached at Alta Loma and Santa Ana Mater Dei, as well as for some club teams.
- John Murphy
909-386-3853
berdooman@aol.com
www.insidesocal.com/sb/prepdog
Palm Desert cornerback Trevor Bateman has committed to Brigham Young University, reported scout.com.
"I love BYU," Bateman told the Web site. "I always wanted to play for BYU growing up and when they offered me I was sort of shocked, but obviously very excited to have the opportunity to play for and attend such a great school."
Bateman (5-11, 180) is also a standout running back/wideout. As a cornerback, he had 70 tackles and four interceptions.
The Web site reported that Arizona and UNLV also offered him scholarships, but that he naturally leaned toward BYU because both of his parents went there.
Miller High School will host the Darin Slack Quarterback Academy July 7-8.
Slack is the quarterback guru who aided Mike Flynn (drafted by the Packers) so much at LSU.
QBs from Cali, Nevada, Wyoming and Montana will attend the camp. More information: Jeff Steinberg: 909-357-5800 x10657.
A quartet of county swimming stars who attended high school just seven miles apart are headed for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.
The teens are leaving Saturday and the swimming will be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at the Quest Center.
"I've been coaching for 40 years and I've had a lot of girls go to trials, but only one boy (Steven Messner, 2000)," said Redlands Swim Club Coach Chuck Riggs.
The swimmers are Austin Brown (200-meter butterfly), Tyler Harp (100-meter freestyle) and Joey Hale (50 free) - all of Redlands High School - and Karl Krug (50 free) of Yucaipa High School.
The swim club had a going-away ice cream social on the pool deck today at Redlands High School, Riggs said.
Krug helped Yucaipa to the CIF-SS title this past spring and Redlands finished second. He will attend Auburn University in the fall, as will Hale. Harp will attend the University of Redlands on an academic scholarship and Brown will be a senior at Redlands High School.
Riggs said the boys are a longshot in Omaha, but that they will benefit by it.
"They're going for the experience," he said. "Four years from now, they'll have a chance. They're very talented."
Colton has hired a new baseball coach and his name is Michael Reh, Yellowjackets athletic director David Drake said.
Reh replaces Pete Ornelas, who is not being brought back as a coach by the Colton administration. Ornelas still teaches at Colton.
Reh is already a teacher at Colton and has been an assistant coach for a few years at Cal State San Bernardino, Drake said.
- John Murphy
berdooman@aol.com
909-633-4829
www.insidesocal.com/sb/prepdog
Yucaipa rising senior baseball star Matt Davidson told the Prep-dog today he has verbally committed to USC.
"I'm really excited," Davidson said. "Living in Southern California, everyone always thinks USC. It's a big thing and I'm extremely excited. They play baseball at a high level and I love the coaches."
Davidson said his commitment, which was actually made before the prep baseball season, came down to USC, Arizona State or the University of San Diego.
USC envisions Davidson as a two-way player, both pitching and playing third base.
Yucaipa's three top pitchers from last season all received scholarships to NCAA Division I schools, with Davidson bound for USC in 2009 and Scott Snodgress (Stanford) and Adam Miller (Brigham Young University) signed for 2008.
Davidson hit .329 as a junior, with 10 extra base hits and 22 runs batted in. He also went 4-2 on the mound, with a 0.87 earned run average, 48 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Opposing pitchers have pitched around Davidson more throughout the years. As a freshman, he hit .341 with eight home runs and 16 extra-base hits in all.
In one memorable game against Rialto as a freshman, Davidson pitched a complete-game shut out in a 5-0 victory, hit two home runs and drove in all of Yucaipa's runs.
In three years of prep pitching he is 23-5 with a 0.96 earned run average, 190 strikeouts and 41 walks.
He has been a Sun All-County every year of high school, including earning Player of the Year honors as a freshman, unprecedented for a ninth grader. Ironically, Davidson did not even attend classes on the regular Yucaipa High School campus at the time.
Davidson also made the calhisports.com all-state team as a freshman and sophomore, with the 2008 team due out shortly.
Prior to the 2008 season, he was named as one of the 50 preps to watch in the nation by The Sporting News.
Last summer Davidson made the USA Baseball youth (16-and-under) team, which won the World Youth Championships gold medal in Venezuela.
Here's a story by Adam Gorney of rivals.com on Upland quarterback Josh Nunes:
By Adam Gorney
Josh Nunes is smart. He picks things up quickly. He has a strong arm. Everything a college coach probably looks for in a quarterback, the Upland prospect has in his arsenal.
Nunes had an impressive performance in Las Vegas last weekend.
That was the assessment from Rivals.com recruiting editor Jeremy Crabtree after seeing Nunes at the Elite 11 regional qualifier in Las Vegas this past weekend. Nunes, a 6-foot-3, 208-pound recruit, wasn't the best quarterback there - that went to UCLA commit Richard Brehaut - but he did a lot of things well and was one of the better uncommitted recruits at the event.
"He has really good upside and he can learn an offense quickly," Crabtree said. "He's very smart. He's a heady player who throws a good ball and just does a lot of things well."
Florida did not sign a quarterback in its 2008 recruiting class and the general thinking is the Gators want one this cycle. Nunes lists an offer from Florida and has said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Mullen has been in close contact.
The California recruit recently narrowed his list to eight and the Gators made the cut along with Arizona State, BYU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Stanford, Tennessee and Harvard. Reached by phone the last two weekends, Nunes' father said he was unsure when the family would find an open weekend to visit Gainesville.
Last season, Nunes completed 124 of 216 passes for 2,105 yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. One thing about Florida that has stood out in interviews with Nunes is coach Urban Meyer's and Mullen's success with their quarterbacks. The different ways the coaches have utilized Alex Smith, Chris Leak and Tim Tebow has impressed him. Nunes said he is more like Smith than the other two quarterbacks.
Rivals.com rates Nunes, who boasts a 4.6 grade-point average and a 1980 SAT score, as the 10th best pro-style quarterback in the 2009 class. He's also a member of the Rivals 250 checking in at No. 181.
Not many of Rivals' top-rated quarterbacks are left on the board. The only other pro-style quarterback in the top 10 who is uncommitted is Frisco (Texas) Centennial's Ryan Mossakowski, who does not list interest in Florida. Mossakowski is No. 6 on the list. All the others have already picked their school although their commitment is not binding until Signing Day in February.
Going down the list, Matt Barkley, the nation's top player regardless of position, has verbally committed to USC. Garrett Gilbert is headed to Texas. Tom Savage pledged to Rutgers. Aaron Murray committed to Georgia. AJ McCarron is headed to Alabama. Brehaut committed to UCLA. Allan Bridgford pledged to California and Zach Mettenberger is headed to Georgia as well.
There are no quarterbacks left in the top 100 of 2009 that are uncommitted. Only three quarterbacks other than Mossakowski are uncommitted and rated higher than Nunes.
They are Sulphur Springs (Texas) prospect Tyrik Rollison at No. 101, San Diego (Calif.) Scripps Ranch quarterback Tate Forcier at No. 145 and Miramar's Eugene Smith at No. 149. Crabtree said whichever program of the eight remaining that lands Nunes is getting a major talent.
"There's a reason why he has 30 scholarship offers," Crabtree said. "All the big schools want him. Very accurate ball, nice spin, very good fundamentals. He's a guy that needs to find the right system that fits him and he'll be very successful as a college quarterback."
San Gorgonio has two new coaches in girls sports, Spartans athletic director Matt Maeda said. Both are teachers at the school.
Anselmo Garcia is taking over for Herman Thomas in girls basketball and Roy Ditto succeeds Maxine Steele in softball.
Maeda said both Thomas and Steele resigned. Thomas' teams had won fewer than a total of 10 games during his two years.
Steele's 2006 team made the CIF-SS quarterfinals and her 2007 and '08 teams both finished third in the San Andreas League.
Garcia played football and basketball at Chaffey High School and has been a football assistant coach at San Gorgonio and was the Spartan freshman basketball coach two years ago.
Ditto, a San Gorgonio grad, formerly assisted Steele.
Here is a rivals.com article by Jeremy Crabtree on Pomona Diamond Ranch offensive lineman Graham Vickers:
Pomona Diamond Ranch offensive lineman Graham Vickers can project at any of the interior line positions. At 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, he said most schools are looking at him as a center, but he could also play guard.
Vickers has two offers but more could be coming soon.
"I'm pretty fast for a guy my size," he said. "I've been timed at 5.02-seconds in the 40-yard dash. That was a laser time. I'm being looked at mostly at center, but I can play inside the line at any of those positions basically."
Vickers has impressed enough on film that several schools have offered him early on.
"I have offers from Army and Navy," he said. "I hear a lot from BYU, too. I've talked to Fresno State, and Colorado State. I hear the most from BYU, Army, Navy and Fresno, though. At this point, Army would be my favorite right now."
"I talk to Saga Tuitele at Army a lot. He's their O-line coach. I also have talked with Steve Johns from Navy, Mark Weber from BYU, Derek Frazier from Fresno and Larry Lewis Colorado State. I'd say Coach Weber is my favorite to talk with. It's because I just like him as a guy and a coach. I just like his teaching method and everything."
Speaking of BYU, Vickers said he had a good time recently at the Cougars' junior day.
"I actually just got back from BYU's junior day this past weekend," he said. "I'm headed to West Point Sunday for their junior day, and then I'm going to Navy. That's all I'm able to take because of summer practice and everything else."
Vickers hopes he'll do enough to earn even more offers and when he does, he plans on looking at schools and a decision more toward middle of his football season.
"Probably and most likely the middle of my season I'll verbal for somebody," he said. "Academics are the main thing. I want to go into Kinesiology. I would like to be physical therapist or athletic trainer.
"It's my decision. My parents will give me their input but it's all up to me."
Here's a story from Jeremy Crabtree of rivals.com on Arroyo Valley offensive lineman Michael Philipp:
San Bernardino Arroyo Valley four-star offensive guard Michael Philipp was recently promoted to the nation's top offensive guard, but the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Philipp says he's also just as comfortable playing tackle.
Michael Philipp wants a shot at playing tackle in college.
And that might be something that plays a big role in his recruitment.
"I'm looking to play at the school that's going to play me at left tackle," he said. "I want to make sure I play left tackle. I know some schools want me as guard. I also want a good education.
"I just feel comfortable at left tackle. If it wasn't for left tackle then my next position would be left guard. I feel comfortable on the left. I feel like my specialty is pass blocking, and I feel like I could block the quarterback on the left."
At this point, he's really excited about everybody on his list and most schools seem willing to give the nation's No. 37 player a shot at playing tackle.
"They're pretty much all even," he said. "They're all good schools. I talk a lot to coach Mike Cavanaugh from Oregon State, coach Tom Osborne for Oregon, coach Tim Drevino at Stanford and coach Wayne Moses for UCLA. I really like coach Cavanaugh. Throughout his career he was in Hawaii with the Polynesians. He knows how to relate well with us."
But at this point, Philipp isn't ruling anybody at. It does, though, look like it'll be tough to get him out of the Pac 10.
"The Pac 10 that's my favorite conference, but I'm still open for other schools like Colorado in the Big 12," he said. "I grew up in California, and I like the Pac 10 conference. It would be real hard to make a decision now. I'm going to take all my trips. I've still have to decide what schools I'm going to trip to. The school I find to be the most comfortable is the one I'll choose."
"I'm going to take it to signing day. It's going to be a while before I decide. I really don't have a favorite team."
His family wouldn't mind him staying closer to home for sure, though.
"My dad passed away my freshman year but he was always about education," Philipp said.
"He always liked Stanford and wanted me to go there. My mom likes Stanford, too, but she also likes UCLA because it's close. They would drop hints here and there of where they would like to see me go but it's up to me and it's my decision."
The Corona Santiago softball team (26-4), led by Kamerin and Kristen May, finished 13th in the rivals.com Fab 50 ratings.
Broad Run (28-0) of Ashburn, Va. was ranked first.
Sacramento Sheldon (32-2) was the highest rated Cali team at fourth, folllowed by Valencia of Valencia (ninth at 29-5) and Simi Valley (10th at 30-1).
Norco (29-6), paced by Stanford-bound Teagan Gerhart, checked in at 24th.
Riverside North guard Malcolm Lee and San Jose Archbishop Mitty center Drew Gordon will reunite this summer.
The duo are two of nine USA Basketball veterans who will attend the 2008 USA Basketball Men's Under 18 National Team Trials July 1-3 at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C.
The 25 athletes selected will compete for one of 12 roster spots available.
The training camp is July 4-10, followed by the FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men July 14-18 in Formosa, Argentina.
Lee and Gordon are bidding to represent the U.S. for a third time. They helped lead the U.S. to a 98-78 win over the World Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit in April. Lee helped force 25 World turnovers and to account for 18 U.S. steals. Gordon, who missed much of his team's West Catholic Athletic League season with an injury, scored 15 points and had seven rebounds and four blocks.
Lee and Gordon will both play at UCLA next season on scholarship.
Here is a blurb from scout.com recruitng expert Brandon Huffman on Corona Santiago tight end Marlion Barnett:
by Brandon Huffman
Corona Santiago tight end Marlion Barnett received his first in-state offer on Friday.
"I just got an offer letter from San Diego State today," said Barnett.
The Aztecs join Washington, Minnesota and fellow Mountain West school UNLV in offering Barnett.
Barnett had 30 receptions for 400 yards and two touchdowns in 2007, helping the Sharks to the CIF-SS Inland Division Finals.
Corona Roosevelt is looking for a new girls basketball coach, athletic director Don Nicholson said.
Nicholson said former Mustangs coach Darryl Wingate resigned last week, stating that Winggate wants to spend more time with his family. The outgoing coach has two children.
"We're looking for someone who can step right in," Nicholson said. "Our program is barely off the ground, so we need someone who can get it rolling."
Roosevelt, a second-year school, went 0-21 in 2006-2007 and 3-20 in 2007-2008.
The Roosevelt job is being advertised now and closes June 27.
Rich Bancroft, 36, is the new offensive coordinator for the Murrieta Valley football team, Bancroft said.
He resigned as the head coach at Moreno Valley Canyon Springs after last season, stating that he wanted to spend more time with his family which had just expanded due to the birth two months ago of son Asher.
But Bancroft got a deal he could not refuse from Murrieta Valley, he said. He will be a physical education teacher at the school at a higher rate of pay and will run the offense. Better yet, the Murrieta Valley campus is just 15 minutes from the Menifee location where the Bancrofts are building a new home (they currently live in Moreno Valley).
"I'm getting a bump in pay as a P.E. teacher and it's a sizable amount," Bancroft said. "Plus, I will not have the responsibilities of being a head coach. I wasn't going to coach for at least a year, but it's not every day the Murrieta Valley district calls and offers a pay raise, and so I thought I'd better take it.
It's a nice situation and the staff is very knowledgeable. I wanted to get back to coaching eventually anyway, I just didn't think it would be this soon."
Bancroft also said Stan Hunt, already on the Murrieta Valley campus, is the new defensive coordinator under new coach Greg Ireland. Hunt was the defensive coordinator at Corona Centennial last season.
Here is a story from rivals.com on Moreno Valley running back Daniel Jenkins:
Moreno Valley Rancho Verde running back Daniel Jenkins is a two time all-league selection and last season he rushed for over 1,000 yards. Now colleges are taking note as he has four offers and more could be on the way.
Jenkins feels that he has the ability to score every time he touches the ball.
One of those schools that could offer soon is Syracuse University. The Orange have already offered one prospect from Ranch Verde Richard Spencer and that is one reason Jenkins likes the idea of Syracuse.
"Syracuse, they are interested. I have talked to them several times and I stay in contact with Coach White. They have already offered my best friend Richard Spencer and I would be pretty excited if they offered."
Jenkins, 5-foot-9, 171 pounds also went on to talk about what he thinks about when the Orange are on his mind.
"The first word that comes to my mind is tradition and it is a prominent school. Jim Brown went there and he is one of my favorite players of all time. It is just a good school and good environment with great fan support."
When it comes to having a top five Jenkins is not ready to list his favorites just yet. For Orange fans however they do stand apart from other schools looking at Jenkins.
"Syracuse is one of the top schools, if I had a top five they would be in it."
A visit from coast to coast is sometimes tough to figure out, but an Orange offer could get Jenkins on campus pretty quick.
"If Syracuse does end up offering then I will definitely have them in my official visits."
The location of a school will not be a big factor in making a decision, but if Jenkins can go to school with Spencer he thinks that would be fine.
"Location is not going to be a problem," Jenkins said. "It is a plus that my best friend Spencer has already been offered by them. We have always kind of wanted to go to the same college and play ball since we were young. That would be a plus because it is good to know someone that you trust going with you."
Right now Jenkins and Spencer only hold one common offer, but Jenkins thinks that more schools will be taking a look at the two of them.
"We share a Nevada offer and a lot of other schools that have offered me are looking at him also."
As it stands right now with four offers in hand Jenkins thinks there could be a chance he picks one more up this weekend.
"I will be at the UCLA camp this weekend and I might get an offer from them."
A decision is not expected soon, but Jenkins admits if the feeling is right he could pick a school earlier than he plans.
"If a situation presents itself I could make an early decision, but I think I will make a decision sometime before the season is over."
Compton Dominguez has been penalized by CIF-SS for a bizarre infraction, according to this article by Lance Pugmire in the Los Angeles Times:
In a rare sanction, Compton Dominguez High's decorated athletic program has been stripped of any home boys' or girls' playoff games for all sports in the 2008-09 school year, a Southern Section official confirmed Thursday.
Dominguez, a Southern California power in boys' basketball that has also claimed two Southern Section football titles in the last three seasons, was delinquent in delivering the Southern Section its boys' basketball playoff ticket revenue from two home playoff games this year, spokesman Thom Simmons said.
The Dons, coached by the school's athletic director, Russell Otis, ultimately won their 11th Southern Section title under Otis' leadership, and finished runner-up in the state Division I tournament.
"We sent them several notices that the money was due, and this is not Dominguez's first time being late to pay," Simmons said. "Dominguez was given every opportunity to comply with the rules."
In a May 21 meeting, the Southern Section's executive committee ruled Dominguez had violated a section by-law that reads: " . . . schools that continue to be delinquent with financial reports will not be allowed to host a home game during the playoffs in all sports for a period of one year."
Messages left at Dominguez for Otis and Principal Charles Watkins were not immediately returned Thursday.
Dominguez football Coach Willie Donerson said he had not been informed of the Southern Section's ruling until Thursday.
"I know they've been late a few times before," Donerson said. "You can't keep breaking rules. You break rules, you should be punished. It will be a problem not playing at home; we'll just have to deal with it."
The school is responsible for turning in all money it takes at the gate for playoff games to Southern Section officials, who then provide the participating schools a return check for percentages of the total money.
Despite state reports that show more than 60% of Dominguez's students live at or below the poverty line, Dominguez's boys' basketball program is well-funded with some shoe company backing and a nonleague schedule that took the team to Florida and Washington last season.
A Dominguez official ultimately provided the Southern Section the playoff game funds on May 23, two days after the executive committee decided to sanction Dominguez. Simmons declined to say how much money Dominguez was holding.
"It doesn't matter if it were $2," Simmons said. "This is not an appeal-able situation."
Lance.pugmire@latimes.com
Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett will appear at his alma mater, Miller High School, at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Barnett will be there for a meet-and-greet, said Rebels football coach Jeff Steinberg. He will be the first inductee in the school's ring of honor and will be honored in the school cafeteria.
"He really wants to re-connect with (the city of) Fontana," Steinberg said.
Barnett graduated from Miller in 1999 and was a first-round draft choice of the Packers.
Here is the LA84 all-section D5 softball team, led by senior pitcher Marisa Anchondo and senior catcher Ariell Chao, both of Silverado, and junior catcher Jamie Roland of Hesperia, all first-teamers:
ALL CIF SOFTBALL TEAM
DIVISION V
2008
FIRST TEAM
H. RODRIGUEZ NORTH (TORR.) P JR
JENNA RICH EL SEGUNDO P JR
HANNAH FRAIJO NORTHVIEW P SR
JENNA MARTIN VILLAGE CHR. P JR
M. ANCHONDO SIVERADO P SR
H. HARRISON NORTHVIEW C JR
JAMIE ROLAND HESPERIA C JR
ARIELLR CHAO SILVERADO C SR
ASHLEE LEON EL SEGUNDO 2B SR
V. RODRIGUEZ NORTH (TORRANCE) 2B SR
KARINA SCOTT TORRANCE SS SO
S. SLONIKER SAN DIMAS SS SR
VERONICA GRANT TEMPLE CITY SS SO
TIFFANY RUBIN MARK KEPPEL 2B JR
SAM HEYMON EL SEGUNDO CF JR
ARIEL SHORE SAN DIMAS CF JR
SECOND TEAM
JANAE LAPIERRE BIG BEAR P JR
BRITTANY FLORES SIERRA VISTA P JR
ERICA PRENTICE RIM P JR
KELSEY BYRD HESPERIA P SO
JAMIE SAMUEL MALIBU C JR
KAT KOLDE RIM C SR
D. CASTRO NORTH (TORRANCE) UT SR
MICHELLE MAN SOUTH PASADENA 1B SR
AMY VERGELEDE MAYFIELD 2B JR
LISA HANDAYAN SAN MARINO 3B SR
MEGAN LATTA PASADENA POLY SS SO
BRITTANY HELM TORRANCE OF SO
M. STANSBURY VILLAGE CHRISTIAN OF JR
K. ELUNSWORTH TEMPLE CITY UT SR
LAUREN DIETRICH WESTRIDGE 3B JR
CHEYANNA KAWALL SERRANO 3B SO
C. MC GEE WHITTIER CHRISTIAN P JR
PLAYER OF THE YEAR COACH OF THE YEAR
JESSICA MOON HOWARD MILLER
TORRANCE NORTH (TORRANCE)
LA84 ALL CIF - SS
Softball
DIVISION VI
MVP: Sterling Hoham SR P - Riverside Christian
Coach of the Year: Oscar Sanchez - Calvary Murrieta
First Team
1. Asia Alvarez SO P/SS Riverside Christian
2. Amanda Clark SO C Riverside Christian
3. Tory Ferreira SR P/SS Calvary Murrieta
4. Anita Green SR 2B Calvary Murrieta
5. Angelica Jensen SR SS Calvary Murrieta
6. Victoria Couch FR OF/P Woodcrest Christian
7. Alonzo Alexis SR P/OF Woodcrest Christian
8. Ashley Shirk SR 1B Paraclete
9. Adriana Perez JR C Paraclete
10. Michelle Escamilla SR P Alverno
11. Jenny Cherry SO C Campbell Hall
12. Diana Payan SR SS South El Monte
13. Andrea Lyons SR P Marymount
14. Jalisa Rock SO SS Cantwell Sacred Heart
15. Caitlin Relyea SR SS Notre Dame Academy
16. Lia Robson SR P Kern Valley
Second Team
1. Cassie Benson JR P Rosamond
2. Cherstin Nanlin JR 1B Rosamond
3. Monica Sepulveda SO P Connelly
4. Brianna Remlinger SR SS Upland Christian
5. Tee-Ah-Ni Stone JR P Bishop Union
6. Alexis Skinkis JR SS Oxford Academy
7. Caitlin Lopez SR C/SS Avalon
8. Capri Ruiz SR C Capistrano Valley
9. Jessica Guertin SR C Desert Christian
10. Melissa Gioino JR P Oxford Academy
11. Maddy Long SR P Campbell Hall
12. Anne Gaber JR P South El Monte
13. Meghan Blank FR SS Marymount
14. Lauren Yao JR 2B Cantwell Sacred Heart
15. Chelsea Moreno SO P Montclair Prep
16. Amanda Angel JR C Upland Christian
Another member of the Rim of the World coaching family has died.
This morning, at his home in Pickrell, Neb., Bennet Joseph "Ben" Stindt, 68, died after a long battle with cancer, said Rim athletic director Dave Ochs.
Last year another member of RIm's 1976 CIF-SS championship football coaching staff, Chuck Webb, also died.
"Ben was a good ol' farm boy from Nebraska and he loved football," Ochs said. "He was about the most likeable coach we ever had at Rim. He was just an old country boy and the kids loved him.
"He had a big laugh that was infectious. He was a typical farmer. Our equipment wasn't the best back then and he just took the attitude of whatever was wrong, we'd make do. A little duct tape or bailing wire and we were good to go."
Stindt could also coach some ball, guiding the Fighting Scots to the CIF-SS Division 1A title.
Rim defeated Bishop Union 16-15 in the final minute in the title game, with quarterback Bobby Gradillas - now the Rim coach - handing off an option play to Chuckie Dean, who ran it in from the 3. CIF-SS Player of the Year Greg Ward had set up the score with a long punt return.
"Ben Stint called time out and asked me what play to run," Gradillas said. "I said '19-speed-option.' We hadn't run it all year, but we practiced it. I ran to the left and could keep it or pitch it. I pitched it to Chuckie and he went around the corner and scored."
Gradillas said he learned much by watching Stindt on the sideline.
"He was an outstanding coach," the current Rim coach said. "The trouble I have as coach is sometimes I want to do everything instead of delegating. Ben wasn't a great offensive or defensive mind, but he had good coaches (under him) and he let them coach. He kept the team together and he worked us hard and we were always in condition and ready to play."
Stindt taught at Rim for 14 years and coached the football team for eight. He also coached baseball, wrestling and track and field.
He was named the Coach of the Year by the All-Southern California Board of Athletics and also received the Kellogg's Foundation Coach of the Year Award following that '76 season.
He returned to Nebraska after '76 to run the family farm after his father became ill. That is where he and wife Linda reared their four children.
A graduate of Beatrice High School in Nebraska, he then returned to his alma mater and taught math and coached football. He was the head coach of the Orangemen from 1978 through '83. From 1984 until his retirement from education in 2002, he taught physical education at two elementary schools.
Even after retirement from education, he stayed in the game as a prep football official, while serving as a substitute teacher at Beatrice's four elementary schools.
Stindt also enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, camping and playing cards.
A source of pride was his 1917 Model N Waterloo Boy tractor that he restored and which took first place in the 2007 Homestead Days parade during the 150th Beatrice anniversary celebration.
Stindt also found time to occasionally return to Rim to watch the Fighting Scots play and renew acquaintances with such old friends as Webb and Ochs, among others. He attended the 1976 team's 20-year reunion in '96 and also attended a game in 2007.
Stindt leaves behind wife Linda, whom he met at Midland-Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb. where he was an all-conference running back and also lettered in track and wrestling.
After Midland-Lutheran, Stindt furthered his education at San Diego State and lived with his wife in California for 15 years before his return to the Midwest.
Bobby Gradillas said the former Rim coach had planned to assist a prep team in Nebraska this season and had spoke to Frank Gradillas - Bobby's father - about strategy.
Frank Gradillas and Ochs are the only living coaches now from that '76 title team.
Funeral services for Stindt are at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Nebraska.
A memorial has been established to the Ben J. Stindt Scholarship Fund through the Beatrice Educational Foundation, the Voice of St. John Radio Broadcast and the Beatrice Community Hospital Hospice Program.
Two-time Olympic gold medal catcher Stacey Nuveman, a Pomona St. Lucy's graduate, is hitting her stride as she seeks a third gold medal, according to reports by rivals.com and usasoftball.com.
Nuveman had a grand slam among her three hits Saturday in a 19-0 victory against the Bloomington Lady Hearts before 4,217 fans in Normal, Ill..
Said Nuveman on the USA softball Website following her teams consecutive victories against Team NPF (6-0) and the Lady Hearts: "We came here in 2004 and once again it was a fantastic site. Today I really felt great out there. My at-bats are getting better every day as we continue on the tour and prepare ourselves for situations in Beijing."
Kaiser graduate Amber Jackson had one of Team NPF's two hits Saturday against Team USA.
Team USA is 45-1 on the "Bound 4 Beijing" (China) tour.
The U.S. team had a combined 25 runs and 25 hits in the two games.
Fifteen of the 18 players U.S. Olympians are from California, according to rivals.com. Here is the U.S. roster, including high schools attended:
Monica Abbott - North Salinas
Laura Berg - Santa Fe Springs
Crystal Bustos - Canyon (Canyon Country)
Andrea Duran - Selma
Tairia Flowers - Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)
Jennie Finch - La Mirada
Vicky Galindo - James Logan (Union City)
Lovieanne Jung - Fountain Valley
Kelly Kretschman - Satellite (Florida)
Lauren Lappin - Loara (Anaheim)
Caitlin Lowe - Foothill (Tustin)
Jessica Mendoza - Camarillo
Stacey Nuveman - St. Lucy's (Pomona)
Cat Osterman - Cypress Springs (Texas)
Natasha Watley - Woodbridge (Irvine)
Reserves and High School Attended
Lisa Fernandez - St. Joseph (Lakewood)
Alicia Hollowell - Fairfield
Jenny Topping - La Habra
2008 ALL LA 84 TEAM
DIVISION VII FIRST TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MICHELLE LESSER, VIEWPOINT, 11, PITCHER
CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR: PAM OSERANSKY & KELLY TOOVEY, VIEWPOINT
P Marie Burger 11 Baptist Christian 1st
SS Vanessa Yonkers 11 Baptist Christian 1st
P Michelle Lesser 11 Viewpoint 1st
SS Blaire Berka 11 Viewpoint 1st
3B Brooke Berka 11 Viewpoint 1st
C Anyssa Salcido 12 Victor Valley Chr. 1st
3B Emily Wade 12 Victor Valley Chr. 1st
SS Sarah Patrick 12 Rolling Hills 1st
P Amber Garland 10 Rolling Hills 1st
P Sierra Rick 10 Hesperia Chr. 1st
SS Ashley McCloud 11 Hesperia Chr. 1st
C Hannah Morin 11 Hesperia Chr. 1st
P Brittany Eyles 12 Mesa Grande 1st
C Hilary Nieland 11 Mesa Grande 1st
P Pam Ramirez 12 St. Matthias 1st
P Trinity Cuff 12 Faith Baptist 1st
C Cherith Simmons 12 Faith Baptist 1st
LF Melissa Tindall 12 Faith Baptist 1st
2008 ALL LA 84 TEAM
DIVISION VII SECOND TEAM
C Lauren Warner 12 St. Mary's 2nd
P Maria McCullough 12 Lee Vining 2nd
C Megan Beaver 12 Lee Vining 2nd
P Karen Torres 12 St. Mary's 2nd
1B Yvette Gonzalez 11 St. Matthias 2nd
3B Hope Jinkins 9 Rolling Hills 2nd
3B Celeste Reber 11 Baptist Christian 2nd
P Jenny Cody 12 Victor Valley Chr. 2nd
Here is ang story from rivals.com recruiting expert Richard Kimbrel on Colony strong safety Keith Hutchins:
There is no doubt that one of the fastest emerging programs in Southern California is Colony. This Inland Empire powerhouse has won two straight CIF titles and with the talent on the team there is a very good chance that Colony could win two more. Colony has players in both the class of 2009 and 2010 who will be playing on Saturdays.
One of the players to jot down for future reference is strong safety Keith Hutchins (5-10, 180, 4.6).
As a sophomore, Hutchins earned second-team all-league after accounting for 49 tackles, one pick and had a safety.
Arizona State, Utah, Utah State and Fresno State are already ahead in the recruiting game and are aware of Hutchins.
In the weight room, Hutchins has a current bench of 230, squats 405 and power cleans 200. He has also recorded a 30-inch vertical.
The scouting report on Hutchins is he's a big hitter, his teammates say hits the opposition Sean Taylor style so obviously he packs a punch.
Colony head coach Anthony Rice concurs with his players' assessment of his talented safety's hitting ability.
"Keith is a tremendous hitter and is a very smart, intelligent football player," Rice said. "He's very competitive, physical and aggressive."
"Keith has good vision and has the knack to find the football."
Though Hutchins is very open and has some time to think about things he does have an early favorite school.
"Oregon is my favorite school," Hutchins said. "I like the way the Ducks play defense."
It is a good bet that there will be plenty of teams who will try and supplant Oregon as his favorite school when it becomes his time to be recruited.
Eisenhower principal Reginald Thompkins will be the new principal at Corona Santiago, said Rialto Unified School District spokeswoman Syeda Jafri.
Thompkins was a basketball star at Pacific High School and formerly coached the basketball team at San Gorgonio High School.
Jafri said the school district will have a going-away party for Thompkins on June 26th.
Jafri added that Thompkins' new job will ease his commute, since his family - he has a wife and two children - is moving to Corona soon.
Thompkins is the second member of the Ike administration to be leaving the school this spring. The other is assistant principal Tom Hoak who - as previously reported here - is retiring from education after 37 years. Hoak led Ike to the 1993 CIF-SS football championship and a No. 2 national ranking.
Bloomington's Anissa Young and Cajon's Alex Mitchell - both infielders - have made the All-LA84 CIF-SS D3 softball first team. Here is the entire team:
1st Team
Name Grade Position School
Selisha Walker 10 pitcher Santa Monica
Julia Rice 11 pitcher Oak Park
Diana Patterson 11 pitcher Los Altos
Kirsten Peraza 11 pitcher Burbank
AJ Woodward 12 pitcher Paloma Valley
Jasmine Harrell 11 pitcher Beckman
Lindsey Monk 12 catcher Paloma Valley
Ashley Holmes 10 catcher La Serna
Lauren Lastrapes 11 outfielder Laguna Hills
Ashleigh Gordillo 12 infielder Cresenta Valley
Anissa Young 12 infielder Bloomington
Dalyn Varela 12 infielder Elsinore
Alex Mitchell 12 infielder Cajon
Daisy Beltran 12 infielder Burbank
Ariel Tsuchiwama 11 catcher Sonora
2nd Team
Name Grade Position School
Kaitlin Bradac 12 utility Garden Grove
Tiffany Blanco 12 utility Paloma Valley
Danielle La Pointe 11 utility Elsinore
Lindsey Kent 12 catcher Cajon
Megan Denio 12 outfielder Beckman
Stephanie Zieman 11 outfielder Cresenta Valley
Brooke Putich 12 outfielder La Serna
Eileen Garcia 12 outfielder Colton
Sarah Fox 10 outfielder La Reina
Liz Ward 12 outfielder Quartz Hill
Vanesa Lenart 12 outfielder Kaiser
Kylee Lahners 9 outfielder Laguna Hills
Brittany Gallegos 12 outfielder Charter Oak
Aquinas sophomore pitcher Stevie Goldstein, who did not walk a batter all season, has made the All-LA84 Southern Section first team, just released. Here is the team:
ALL CIF SOFTBALL
DIVISION IV
FIRST TEAM
Player of the Year: Holli Floetker, Ocean View-10, Pitcher
Coach of the Year: Randy Cruz-Ocean View
Taylor West Estancia 12 Outfield
Desiree Chavez Indio 10 Pitcher
Julie Fernandez Harvard-Westlake 12 Infield
Tori Sadlak Pomona Catholic 10 Pitcher
Priscilla Velasquez La Quinta 12 Infield
Samantha Nieves South Hills 9 Infield
Justine Bosio Dos Pueblos 12 Catcher
Nikole Afusia Ocean View 12 Catcher
Emily Gregorio Warren 11 Infield
Stevie Goldstein Aquinas 10 Pitcher
Lauren Castrellon Downey 12 Pitcher
Brittany Cervantes Chaminade 12 Catcher
Jessica Traxler Bishop Amat 12 Infield
Amy Lwin Bishop Amat 12 Pitcher
Tanya Dowler Savanna 11 Pitcher
Monica Segura Segerstrom 11 Pitcher
ALL CIF SOFTBALL
DIVISION IV
SECOND TEAM
Amy Hartwell Estancia 10 Infield
Shelby Reis Pomona Catholic 12 Infield
Brianna Marcontoni Pomona Catholic 12 Infield
Brianna Luna La Quinta 10Infield
Sara Quintero South Hills 12 Infield
Janelle Wong Dos Pueblos 12 Catcher
Cori Gacad Morro Bay 11 Infield
Alyssa Ramos Ontario Christian 9 Utility
Samantha Vaaulu Warren 12 Catcher
Mariah Cochiolo St. Joseph 10 Outfield
Cassandra Godoy Downey 12 Infield
Eileen Rico Downey 10 Catcher
Paridyse De Vinney Magnolia 10 Catcher
Emily Bliss Chaminade 12 Pitcher
Megan Tupper Chaminade 12 Catcher
Brittany Marchant Savanna 12 Utility
Crystal Gutierrez Saddleback 10 Utility
Here's a report from recruiting expert Brandon Huffman of scout.com on Colton DB Nat Berhe, who is attracting college attention:
Colton cornerback Nat Berhe, an all-league pick in 2007 for the Yellowjackets, landed his fourth and fifth offers.
"Nat received offers from Idaho and Colorado State," said Colton recruiting coordinator B.J. Bray.
The Vandals and Rams join New Mexico, San Diego State and Minnesota in offering the three-star Berhe.
A pair of Pac-10 schools could also be on the verge of offering Berhe.
Berhe is coming off a season in which he had 44 tackles, five interceptions
San Gorgonio tennis coach Patrick Kahler read the Prep-dog's light-hearted recounting of Reverend Gregory Elder's sermon Sunday at St. Adelaide's.
Kahler, a St. Adelaide's parishioner, said via email he "enjoys the
married Catholic perspective from our priest. There are about 400 such priests
in the USA."
The Prep-dog agrees. Rev. Greg is beyond entertaining.
Patrick Kahler can also be amusing - sardonic sense of humor and all. The latest news from him is a new Kahler has arrived ... Nikolas Joseph Luc Kahler born, Sunday. He arrived two weeks early and weighed in at seven pounds, six ounces.
The San Gorgonio teacher/coach said he and wife Patty are doing fine and that he is celebrating with a six-pack of Pepsi. Congrats to the Kahlers. Prep-dog expects a cigar.
Rim of the World graduate Marcie Van Dusen, as a child, watched Olympic hopeful Michelle Kwan practice at the Blue Jay ice skating venue.
VanDusen, 25, probably never envisioned herself as an Olympian.
But that improbable dream came true on Friday in Las Vegas at the U.S. Olympic Trials as Van Dusen qualified for the U.S. women's Olympic freestyle wrestling team.
"It feels good," the matter-of-fact Van Dusen said by cell phone from Colorado Springs. "It really hasn't sunk in yet, although it did a little bit at the awards ceremony last night. I don't think I've felt the full impact yet, but I will when I start training camp on June 30."
The Olympics for wrestling are Aug. 12-21 in Beijing, China.
The 2000 Rim of the World High School graduate defeated Sally Roberts in two consecutive matches at 121 pounds (55 kilograms) to earn the spot.
She trailed after one period in both matches, but bounced back to win both.
Van Dusen is the third Rim product to be an Olympian. Figure skaters Kwan and Kristi Yamaguchi both attended Rim via the home-schooling program, but neither played sports at Rim.
By contrast, Van Dusen attended school in Lake Arrowhead from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Up in Lake Arrowhead, they are filled with pride over Van Dusen.
"This is huge," Rim athletic director Dave Ochs said. "At one point we had a ceremony in Blue Jay where I presented Michelle Kwan with a Rim letterman's jacket. But we feel a little closer to Marcie because she is one of ours - she was here from the get-go. She's like a favorite daughter."
Van Dusen won the U.S. Nationals, also held in Las Vegas. That earned her a spot in the best-of-3 finals for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
As a prep, Van Dusen finished fourth at 119 pounds in the CIF-SS on a section title team. She was the first CIF-SS girl to qualify for the finals and the first to win a medal.
"She'd go out and wrestle against these puffed-up guys who were all macho and she would just out-point the heck out of them," Ochs said. "Her technique was so good."
Scott Craft was Van Dusen's coach her senior year in high school and he remembers her fondly.
"She was the toughest, hardest-working kid," Craft said. "She never missed a practice."
John Beresford, who started wrestling at Rim in 1965, recalls Marcie tagging along after her older wrestling brother T.J. Van Dusen in 1993.
"She was 10 years old," Beresford said. "She'd say 'Can I work out?' I told her she needed shoes, so she would pull these little red wrestling shoes out of her bag. It was the cutest thing."
By her high school years, Van Dusen was not so adorable to opposing wrestlers, out-maneuvering boys in her weight class on a regular basis.
"She was kicking (rear)," Beresford said. "Her record was incredible."
Women's wrestling made its Olympic debut in 2004 in Athens, Greece. But youth wrestling coach Dave Chapman - the father of former Rim CIF-State champion Scott Chapman - planted the idea of Van Dusen making the Olympics years earlier.
"He started coaching me when I was 8 years old," Van Dusen said. "He said I could make the Olympics. He motivated me."
Van Dusen is from an athletic family. Besides brother T.J., her father Tom Van Dusen played football in high school in Hermosa Beach. Also, her mother Cindy is an avid water skiier and snow skiier.
VanDusen laughed when asked if she had ever wrestled on the living room floor with her brother, T.J..
"Almost every night,' she said. "And I've never beaten him."
This morning the Caltrans girl knocked on my door, dressed for church. It is Father's Day and her birthday, so she thought it appropriate that we attend Mass.
We drove the mile to our home parish, St. Adelaide's in Highland.
Rev. Gregory Elder was giving his sermon and it was his usual amusing, humorous fare. Until, that is, he besmirched my place of employment, taking me slightly aback.
I believe the jist of his message was that Catholics should point out the good in fellow Catholics, as opposed to what the evil media and such does. He said something like - I'm paraphrasing here - "you know if Sister Mary Holy Water got pulled over for speeding, that it would be on the front page of the San Bernardino Sun, but there is nothing said about all of our good works."
First, let me say that perhaps Sr. Mary Holy Water should let off the gas pedal a bit. Second, I'm sure my colleagues at the paper would be more than happy to write a positive piece on St. Adelaide's ... such as maybe on this wisecracking reverend. He seems like a story all by himself, and I mean that in a good way.
After the Mass ended, Rev. Gregory was greeting the parishioners as they departed the church.
"Reverend," I said. "I'm John Murphy. Thanks for reading The Sun."
The Rev smiled at me as we shook hands and he gave me a curious look, perhaps surprised some scribes actually attend church.
Sunday is a day of rest for this ink-stained wretch of the press, so I planned a leisurly remainder of the day. What the heck, I still have the rest of the week to crack back on Sr. Mary Holy Water.
- John Murphy
909-386-3853
berdooman@aol.com
www.insidesocal.com/sb/prepdog
Who the heck is Derrek Dickey, you might ask?
Dickey was a power forward on the 1975 Golden State Warriors. During the Warriors' stunning sweep of the Washington Bullets in the NBA Finals, the previously obscure Dickey rose up and shot like 70 percent from the field - a key element in the sweep.
Dickey died of a heart attack in 2002, five years after he suffered a stroke.
I was reminded of Dickey's exploits as I watched similar heroics by the Boston Celtics' forward Leon Powe against the Lakers in Game 2 last week.
Let me backtrack.
I grew up in San Bruno, a suburb of San Francisco. Back in the 1960s, it was Giants, 49ers and Warriors country.
For a while in the 1970s the Warriors practiced in my hometown, at the San Bruno War Memorial Gymnasium. The Warriors were in town, we knew, when Nate Thurmond's wine-colored Rolls Royce was parked in front of "The Rec."
I distinctly remember ballboy "Scooter" Barry retrieving the under-handed free throws of his dad Rick Barry, the team's irascible star. I also recall chatting with Jerry Lucas during a break in the action at The Rec. Lucas seemed like a nice guy.
But by the 1974-'75 season, the Warriors had moved from San Francisco to Oakland. I vowed to stop rooting for them, because I don't root for Oakland teams.
Naturally, they had a great season in Oakland, going 48-34. But not as great as the Bullets, who went 60-22. When the teams met in the finals, the Bullets were big favorites.
The Warriors were possessed, though. Behind Barry, Jamaal Wilkes, Clifford Ray, Dickey, Charles Johnson, George Johnson, Phil Smith and the rest, the Warriors took Washington down.
Because there was a circus in town, the Warriors had to move a few of their home games in the finals from Oakland to their old home, the Cow Palace in Daly City. Barry loved the loose rims and said they looked "as big as manhole covers." He had a great series. So did Dickey, who made just about everything he put up.
I recall two things from Game 4 in Washington. One was the Bullets' tough Mike Riordan mugging Barry on a drive to the bucket. That prompted Warrior coach Al Attles to come off the bench to try to kick Riordan's rear. Attles - known as "The Destroyer" during his playing days - would have, too, had he not been intercepted.
I also remember the TV cameras going right into the Warriors' huddle in the final minute. The extent of Attles' message - delivered in his trademark raspy voice - was "When the game ends, somebody grab Barry's kid and we'll go out THAT exit."
This is where the tale becomes rather fantastic, but I swear the rest is true.
I was 18 at the time and a recreation leader in San Bruno. My co-workers were enthused by the Warriors' victory and decided to drive to the nearby San Francisco International Airport to meet the team upon their return.
There was a huge crowd and barricades and cops out on the Tarmac as everyone awaited the Warriors' return. A platform was erected for the team to occupy once it got off the plane.
Finally, the team arrived. It was bedlam. It exited the plane to wild applause and climbed up on the platform. Everyone was there ... Barry, Wilkes, Johnson, Ray, Smith, Attles - the whole crew.
Sometime during the celebration - fortified by something a tad stronger than Coca Cola - I simply ducked under one of the barricades, strolled by some oblivious S.F. cops and climbed on the platform with the Warriors. I was up there for a good 15 or 20 minutes, too, waving to the crowd and flashing the thumbs-up sign, as my buddies looked on in amazement.
Finally, one of the Warriors' officials noticed and said "Hey, who the hell are you anyway?" I didn't have a good answer and he grabbed me by the collar and led me away. It was my 15 minutes of fame.
The '75 finals were also Derrek Dickey's 15 minutes of fame. His star never shone so brightly again. But for one game - the Celtics' Game 2 victory last week against the Lakers - I thought the spirit of Derrick Dickey was reborn in Leon Powe, who torched the Lakers for like 22 points.
Now it's onto Game 5 tonight and we'll see what happens. Once again I will be rooting not so much for the Celtics, but against the Lakers. Sorry, it's a Bay Area thing.
Prep-dog note: Besides the passing of Dickey, two other 1975 Warriors - Charles Johnson and Smith - have also died. Kinda makes an old dog feel older.
- John Murphy
909-386-3853
berdooman@aol.com
www.insidesocal.com/sb/prepdog
Peter Ornelas will not be back as the Colton baseball coach next season, Colton athletic director David Drake said.
"He wasn't fired, but he will not be renewed," Drake said.
In other words, Ornelas was let go as baseball coach, but will remain at Colton as a teacher.
The veteran coach was unavailable for comment.
Colton is advertising the position now.
Art Lilly of Riverside Christian has been named the calhisports.com small-school state coach of the year.
Lilly led the Cougars (26-1) to a se