October 2008 Archives
For Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks and its star quarterback Ryan Kasdorf, the games are getting bigger - more important, more at stake, and, supposedly, more pressure.
With a powerful, accurate arm and nerves of steel, Kasdorf continues to rise to the occasion.
He completed 22 of 28 passes for 325 yards and four touchdowns Friday in a surprisingly easy 37-17 victory over Serra League rival Crespi of Encino before a sold-out crowd of about 5,000 at Crespi.
In just eight games, Kasdorf has passed for a school-record 2,406 yards, breaking Dayne Crist's 2007 record of 2,168. Kasdorf also has tied Ryan Bowne's 1995 school record of 26 touchdown passes.
Coming in, the one knock against Kasdorf was he had not participated in high-pressure games, but there was plenty of pressure Friday and Kasdorf responded by completing his first 11 passes.
"Ryan has proven he can play with the best. He's a great quarterback," Notre Dame receiver James Flynn said. "This is huge, a really big league win."
The victory was Notre Dame's 13th over the past 14 games against Crespi (6-2, 0-1), avenging a loss to the Celts last year that cost the Knights the league title.
"It was a little surprising that we were able to perform so well," Kasdorf said. "I just tried to stay calm and focused and to manage the game, and we came out with the win."
Kasdorf connected with Flynn on touchdowns of 2, 26 and 49 yards, and he also passed 37 yards to Tyler Ruiz for a touchdown. Kenny Boggs added a 1-yard touchdown, and Crespi also scored on a safety on an intentional grounding call against Crespi in the end zone.
Flynn finished with seven receptions for 116 yards, and his three touchdowns gave him 13, tying a school single-season record held by three former Knights.
"We came in and played our butts off and gave it our all," Flynn said. "The 13 touchdowns are nice, but I'd really like to win a CIF championship and a state championship. I believe we can do it if we keep playing well."
Notre Dame (8-0, 1-0) totaled 469 yards - while giving up 262 -- as the Knights scored more than 30 points for seventh consecutive game.
"Crespi is a great team but we were more hungry," Notre Dame linebacker Jordan Barrett said. "We came out and performed.
Crespi's Bryan Bennett completed 20 of 35 passes for 184 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
"We just didn't come out and execute and we needed to do," Crespi offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu said. "We'll move on and keep our heads up high and forget about this. We've got to win the next two games starting next week with Bishop Amat."
Crespi scored on a 6-yard run by Jeremiah McKibbins and a 24-yard field goal by Christian Nastos.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
ND 7-16-14-0-37
C - 0-10-0-7-17
ND-Flynn 2 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
C-McKibbins 6 run (Nastos kick)
C-FG Nastos 24
ND-Safety, intentional grounding in end zone
ND-Ruiz 37 pass from Kasdorf (Kasdorf run)
ND-Flynn 26 pass from Kasdorf (kick failed)
ND-Flynn 49 pass from Kasdorf (Lluis kick)
ND-Boggs 1 run (Lluis kick) 37-10
C-Segal 14 pass from Bennett (Nastos kick) 37-17
STATS
Passing:
ND: Kasdorf 22-28-325
C: Bennett 20-35-184
Rushing
ND: Boggs 16-88
C: McKibbins 10-59
Receiving
ND: Flynn 7-116
C: Stanton 11-94
Oaks Christian 54, Oak Park 0
Taft 57, Chatsworth 14
El Camino Real 62, Granada Hills 38
Highland 31, Lancaster 21
Notre Dame 37, Crespi 17
Grace Brethren 60, Villanova Prep 14
Rio Hondo Prep 53, Viewpoint 0
Birmingham 44, Cleveland 6
Arleta 35, North Hollywood 7
Ed Babayan, basketball coach at Pierce College, is doing a little moonlighting these days.
If it isn't hard enough to recruit and coach at the community college level, try coaching junior high girls.
Babayan is doing just that, coaching the sixth grade girls basketball team at A.G.B.U. school in Canoga Park.
Babayan is the athletic director for the k-12 school and it is in his contract that he coaches one team per season.
"Coaching grown men and junior high girls is obviously very different but I am loving doing both," Babayan said. "They balance each other out."
Not a big surprise, but Notre Dame quarterback Ryan Kasdorf is performing brilliantly once again. The junior completed his first 11 passes and has thrown for 227 yards and three touchdowns through two quarters to help stake the Knights to a 23-10 halftime lead over host Crespi before a sellout crowd.
Kasdorf has completed 16 of 20 passes.
gerry.gittelson
Notre Dame looked very good on its first possession, driving 76 yards for a touchdown, culminating with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Kasdorf to James Flynn.
The drive gobbled nearly six minutes.
Crespi is coming back, though, and they're at the 10. Stay tuned.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Checked in with Joe Fauria, the former Crespi standout tight end now at University of Notre Dame, and Fauria is fully up to date about tonight's Crespi-Notre Dame showdown that begins in just a few minutes.
Fauria has a friendly bet going with Fighting Irish teammates Dayne Crist and Anthony McDonald, both of whom played at Notre Dame High last year: The loser must wear the school colors of the winner for a whole day -- head to toe, including a hat.
gerry,gittelson@dailynews.com
Matt Dominguez, the former Chatsworth standout infielder drafted in the first round of the 2007 Major League draft, has undergone elbow surgery to remove bone chips from left (non-throwing) elbow. The rehab period is three to four weeks.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Well, I'm here in Encino more than two hours early for the Notre Dame-Crespi game, but so is mighty Eric Sondheimer, so we've been fighting for the best press-box seat (only two seats) -- but it's all good.
You can already feel the excitement in the air. People are in line waiting at the gate for the place to officially open -- no presale tix were distributed -- and if you ask 10 peeps who is going to win, five will say Cresi and five will Notre Dame. it's that close.
Always love coming to Encino, as I grew up on Encino Avenue right next door to tennis legend Vic Braden and across the street from Dragnet's Jack Webb (only saw him once though).
I'll update when I can ...
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Milken Community of Los Angeles will be hosting an eight-team tournament for boys basketball teams Dec. 1-4
Here is the schedule:
Monday Dec. 1
Milken vs. New Community Jewish, 3 p.m.
Malibu vs. Vasquez, 4:30 p.m.
Highland Hall vs. Yeshiva, 6 p.m.
Pacifica Christian vs. Shalhevet, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday Dec. 2
Milken vs. Shalhevet, 4:30 p.m.
Yeshiva vs. Vasquez, 6 p.m.
Pacifica Christian vs. New Jewish Community, 7:30 p.m.
Malibu vs. Highland Hall, 9 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 3
Milken vs. Pacifica Christian. 4:30 p.m.
Highland Hall vs. Vasquez, 6 p.m.
New Community Jewish vs. Shalhevet, 7:30 p.m.
Malibu vs. Yeshiva, 9 p.m.
The final day, Thursday Dec. 4, will pit corresponding teams from pool 1 and pool 2.
Here is the schedule for the Crescenta Valley 2008 Falcon Classic.
It is a 12 team tournament with pool play and then bracket play.
Nine of the 12 teams are from the region.
Monday Dec. 1
Montclair Prep vs. Sylmar, 3:15 p.m.
West Ranch vs. Thousand Oaks, 4:45 p.m.
Whittier vs. Oaks Christian, 6:15 p.m.
Simi Valley vs. Villanova Prep, 7:45 p.m.
Tue. Dec. 2
Pasadena vs. West Ranch, 3:15 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. Montclair Prep, 4:45 p.m.
Grant vs. Oaks Christian, 6:15 p.m.
Crescenta Valley vs. Villanova Prep, 7:45 p.m.
Wed. Dec. 3
Grant vs. Whittier, 3:15 p.m.
Thousand Oaks vs. Pasadena, 4:45 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. Sylmar, 6:15 p.m.
Crescenta Valley vs. Simi Valley, 7:45 p.m.
Games continue Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Hey, Jeremiah McKibbins, Uncle Sam wants YOU!
It sure seems that way for the Crespi High running back, considering Army offered him on Tuesday and Navy offered him on Thursday.
Always nice to get two DI offers over a three-day period. A good showing tonight could mean a lot more attention, as McKibbins and the Celts (6-1) play host to Notre Dame (7-0) in a Serra League showdown streamed live at dailynews.com. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Just got word from Antonio Bray, and the Canyon High junior said his eligibility appeal has been denied, so the decision disallowing the running back to play for one full year because of a transfer violation will be upheld.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Crespi receiver Kevin Cummings has been offered by San Diego State, according to scout.com.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Eddie Russ, Jr. is having a crazy year for Antelpe Valley College -- as in crazy good.
He has returned six kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns this season -- plus he returned an interception for a touchdown, too.
Russ is also a top track runner, and that's where he gets his speed.
gerry,gittelson@dailynews.com
Valencia plays host to Hart on Friday in one of Southland's most heated rivalries. The host Vikings (6-1, 2-0) are looking to stave off Saugus (4-3, 2-0) for the league title, while underdog Hart (3-4, 1-1) is hoping to qualify for the playoffs for the 20th time in coach Mike Herrington's 20 seasons.
"It will interesting," Valencia coach Larry Muir said. "I think we have to make sure we hold onto the ball for a long period of time, and that means we have to stop the run. And our playmakers have got to make plays."
Hart defeated Valencia 10 times in a row before the Vikings finally ended the streak in 2004 with a 29-10 victory -- also ending Hart's 65-game league winning streak.
Hart holds a 12-1-1 advantage, including two playoff victories.
A rundown:
2007 - Hart 21, Valencia 21
2006 - Hart 22, Valencia 15
2005 - Hart 17, Valencia 14
2004 - Valencia 29, Hart 10
2003 - Hart 42, Valencia 35
2002 - Hart 39, Valencia 15
*2001 - Hart 42, Valencia 13
2001 - Hart 26, Valencia 0
2000 - Hart 21, Valencia 7
*1999 - Hart 34, Valencia 6
1999 - Hart 42, Valencia 21
1998 - Hart 38, Valencia 14
1997 - Hart 45, Valencia 23
1996 - Hart 37, Valencia 7
*Playoff victory
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Knight's Christian Bush is the Golden League's hottest running back, rushing for 1,260 yards and 10 TDs, including an 80-yarder. Last week, Bush rushed 245 yards against Lancaster after totaling 242 yards the previous week against Quartz Hill.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Former Crespi OL Steve Eck and QB John Sullivan, both of whom graduated in 1972, are slated to be inducted into the Crespi Hall of Fame on Saturday in a campus ceremony hosted by Fox Sports' Chris McGee, a Crespi alum.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Cleveland is 4-3 under new coach Vinnie Johnson, as the Cavaliers have totaled one victory than they had in the 25 games prior to Johnson's arrival from Birmingham, where he was an assistant and head JV coach.
Last year, Birmingham defeated Cleveland 82-0 - one of the most lopsided routs in area history - and the rematch is Friday at Cleveland.
"You know, it's just another game, and Birmingham is a tough opponent - to me they're the best in the City," Johnson said. "But 82-0? We should give a little better fight than that."
Johnson said he has several players with the potential to succeed at the next level, including WR/S Curtis Hudson, QB Tim Brown, WR Travion and WR Tavarus Sterling.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
After 11 years as a San Fernando assistant, Eddie Alcantar was due for a head coaching job, and he has one at Grant High, taking over for Devin Eillsion, who has been at Grant for five years and will remain on campus as a teacher.
"Eleven years? I definitely think I'm ready to be on my own. I'm ready to go," Alcantar said.
Grant's top returning players are Hugo Torres and Enrique Osuna.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Former Saugus cross country standout Katie Dunn captured her first Western State Conference individual title Tuesday, clocking 19 minutes, 14 seconds on the 5-kilometer course at Waller Park in Santa Maria to lead the Vaqueros to their third consecutive team championship.
It was the sixth victory in seven races for Dunn this season, including her second conference triumph, along with a win Oct. 10 at the WSC preview meet at Verdugo Park in Glendale.
It also marked the third year in a row a GCC female runner has captured the conference title, with Tove Berg accomplishing the feat the past two years.
Justina Sadauskaite (19:24) finished second for defending state champion GCC (22), which placed five scoring runners in the top eight to post a convincing win over Cuesta (132). GCC's gap between Dunn and eighth-place finisher Rosa Del Toro was 70 seconds, the best pack the Vaqueros have had all season.
Angie Gonzalez took fifth in 20:14 and Brigette Fernandez was sixth in 20:15, all receiving first-team all-conference honors for the Vaqueros, who will look to capture a third straight Southern California championship Nov. 7 in Bakersfield.
Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta graduate Nathan Sellers finished second in the men's 4-mile race for the Vaqueros (47), who defeated defending WSC champion College of the Canyons (87).
After winning the preview meet Oct. 10, Valley College's Andrew Salg captured the individual title.
Westmark of Encino, a school for students with learning differences, is having a good eight-man football season.
The Lions are 6-1 heading into a game against Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth (7-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Pierce College.
"I don't know how big of a game it's going to be for us because we barely have enough kids to play - too many injuries," Westmark coach Kevin Fox said. "I've had three quarterbacks get hurt - one tore a ligament in his shoulder, one tore his ACL, and the last one has a bone chip in his knee."
Westmark's top players include backs Jordan Haven, Clifton Jones and Bryan Mandell, receiver Max Mason (10 touchdowns) and defensive lineman Aaron Domio (13 sacks).
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Seems Fillmore is a bit spooked about something, according to Ventura Star blog: No Holloween costumes allowed for Friday's game against visiting Santa Paula.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
As much as I'd love to rattle off 61 highlights in honor of the 61 years that the Mt. SAC Invitational has been in existence, even I don't have that much to write about the largest -- and greatest -- high school cross country meet in the nation.
So, the next best thing is to pick out 30 achievements that really stood out Friday and Saturday -- mostly Saturday -- in honor of the 30th anniversary of former Burbank High standout Jeff Nelson setting the true 3-mile Mt. SAC course record of 14 minutes, 32 seconds in 1978.
Nelson jokingly mentioned Saturday that he thought about bringing cupcakes to Mt. SAC to present to the meet directors in honor of his accomplishment, which has since been improved upon by four individuals, albeit on the revised 2.91-mile layout. The cupcakes would've fit right in on a warm day in Walnut, because it was one big party for local runners all weekend long.
Without further adieu, here is the Mt. SAC Thirty-something in honor of Nelson's historical feat:
30. Since I didn't get to talk to Golden Valley's Rob and Chris Evans, I have to credit www.donsdiary.net for this one. Golden Valley sophomore Raziel Morales ran 21:44 last year, but improved to 16:46 in Saturday's Div. II varsity race to be the Grizzlies' No. 4 runner. That's a 4:58 drop folks. I know plenty of teams that didn't drop half that much from last year.
29. Flintridge Sacred Heart's Andrea Kropp, one of the nation's top high school swimmers, continues to progress with every race in her debut cross country season. Kropp was the top finisher for the victorious Tologs in their Div. IV-V girls' varsity race Friday, taking sixth in 20:17.
28. Agoura senior Katie Klezek (19:27) took 10th Friday in the Div. III girls' sweepstakes race.
27. In a race that saw Burbank's Greg Dotson (16:21) finish fourth and Valencia teammate Falco DiGiallonardo (16:39) take 11th, Andrew Berumen (sixth, 16:30) enjoyed a big breakthrough Saturday as Valencia's No. 1 runner in the Vikings' Div. I varsity race.
26. Birmingham's Rico Gutierrez clocked 16:15 Saturday to take fourth in his Div. I varsity race, giving the Patriots more confidence in their pursuit of the City Section title. Quartz Hill's Zach Risinger was right in front of him in 16:11.
25. Flintridge Prep closed the gap significantly from its last meeting with Woodcrest Christian at the Clovis Invitational, taking third in the Div. V boys' sweepstakes race with 72 points. Paul Weitekamp (16:12) took seventh for the Rebels, who trailed Woodcrest Christian (47) and Arizona small school power Hopi (55).
24. Although the times were representative of running during the middle of the day Saturday, Highland had three girls finish in the top five in its Div. I girls' varsity race to take second behind Escondido (48 points). Caylie Choate (19:20) was second, Jessica Smith (19:29) placed fourth and Marilyn Cortina (19:36) was fifth for the runner-up Bulldogs (86 points).
23. Oaks Christian's Charlie Petrie (16:05) finished sixth Friday in the Div. IV boys' sweepstakes race.
22. Hindered by injuries all season, Royal took another step toward securing a possible berth in the Southern Section Div. I final by winning its Div. I boys' varsity race with 110 points. Travis Edwards (16:05) finished eighth for the Highlanders.
21. A great battle took place in a Div. II girls' varsity race between Newbury Park and Canyon, with the Panthers prevailing 62-64. Brynne Shannon (18:58) delivered her best race of the season for Newbury Park, placing fourth, just ahead of Canyon's pack of Alyssa Selve (18:58), Hayley Parkinson (19:06) and Jessica Gatton (19:15), which finished fifth through seventh. Jenny Mallen (19:15) was eighth for Newbury Park.
20. In that same race, Hart (140) took third behind Newbury Park and Canyon, but Grace Zamudio came through with a strong performance for the Indians, placing third in 18:57.
Fred Winborn rushed for a game-high 129 yards on 21 carries, scoring three first half touchdowns to lead College of the Canyons to a 52-29 Western State Conference victory over Ventura Saturday night at Cougar Stadium in Santa Clarita.
After Ventura (3-4, 0-3) took an early 7-0 lead when James Jackson returned a blocked punt 18 yards for a touchdown. But COC (8-0, 4-0) came roaring back, scoring 35 unanswered points.
Winborn scored on a pair of one-yard runs and from two yards out. Hayo Carpenter caught a pair of first half touchdown passes of 3 and 19 yards from Joey McClellan in the second quarter. McClellan completed 19 of 23 passes for 217 yards.
Taveon Burke returned the second half kickoff 91 yards for a score and Sean Quinn added a 13-yard scoring run in the third quarter.
Here's the story I just filed after visiting the good folks at Canoga Park High.
By Ramona Shelburne
Staff Writer
His eyes were puffy and red, his heart heavy. Every step assistant coach Chris Lugo took out on the Canoga Park High football field Friday night made the lump in his throat grow bigger.
But this is where he was supposed to be. His father, longtime Canoga Park football coach Rudy Lugo who passed away Tuesday after a two-year battle with lung cancer, would want it that way.
``This field,'' Chris Lugo said. ``Is the place we shared the best times of our lives.''
Both sides observed a moment of silence for Rudy Lugo, 60, before Canoga's game against Firebaugh High of Lynwood Friday night. The players on the other side of the field had probably never heard of the man known affectionately in these parts as ``Mr. Canoga,'' the guy who grew up down the street from the school, starred as a baseball player and football player, came back to teach and coach just as soon as he graduated from college, then never left the sidelines for the next four decades, but on this night, in one quiet moment, the silence spoke volumes.
Crespi looks very sharp tonight, as the Celts lead St. Francis 20-0 at halftime.
It has been Crespi quarterback Bryan Bennett's night from the very beginning. He completed 9 of his 10 first 10 passes and by the end of the first half was 14 of 17 for 200 yards and a touchdown.
Crespi's Christian Nastos kicked field goals of 37 and 23 yards in the first half.
Kevin Cummings scored Crespi's first touchdown on a 38-yard pass from Bennett, breaking free at the last moment in the end zone on a long pass down the left sideline.
On Crespi's next possession, the Celts drove 50 yards on eight plays, as Bennett completed five passes for 59 yards, including a 22-yarder to Jeremiah McKibbins, and Chris Carter scored on a 1-yard run.
Crespi has outgained the Golden Knights 226-30, as St. Francis' standout running back Dietrich Riley has been held to 19 yards on nine carries.
St. Francis' Justin Sciarra was constantly forced out of the pocket by a Crespi's blitzing defense. Through two quarters, he managed just one completion in six attempts for 5 yards.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Big game here at Crespi tonight -- in fact, the Daily News game of the week -- as the Celts play host to St. Francis in a showdown between two of the area's top parochial schools.
Fans just trickling in, kickoff coming up soon.
Crespi, led by quarterback Bryan Bennett, is the favorite, but St. Francis has looked good, so who knows what's going to happen?
Will update when I can ...
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Three weeks before the first day of practice, West Ranch girls' basketball coach Ron Manalastas has resigned, according to The Signal.
West Ranch was 12-15, 1-9 in the Foothill League last season.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
With plans to graduate to 11-man football beginning next season, second-year program Sierra Canyon is trying to go out with a bang. The Trailblazers (6-0), ranked fifth in the Southern Section eight-man poll, have outscored opponents by an average of 38 points heading into tonight's 7:30 game vs. Montclair Prep (3-3) at Pierce College.
"Our team is comprised mostly of freshmen and sophomores. We're a very young team," Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse said. "We are going to continue to grow as a program."
Receiver Shane Harrison has 11 touchdown receptions in four games.
"He is a stud," Ellinghouse said.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
It's been 41 years since Paraclete finished as the 1967 Southern Section small-schools co-champion after tying Calipatria 7-7 in the final, and former coach Joe Slavin, now 73, still remembers the touchdown that got away that night, costing the Spirits an outright title.
"It was a cold night at Palmdale High, and with about two minutes left, our sophomore quarterback, Butch Trosin, had a receiver all by himself in the end zone, but we had the wrong guy in and he dropped the pass," Slavin said. "I remember looking at my assistant coaches and telling them we had the wrong guy on the field. He was fast but he couldn't catch.
"Calipatria was good, but we were better. We should have won the game."
Some of Paraclete's top players included Grant Gillis, who would go on to be a sportwriter for the Antelope Valley Press, along with John Mahoney, Ken Barnes and Gary Worford.
"It was a fun environment, a small town back then," said Slavin, now in Arroyo Grande. "The school had opened just a couple of years earlier, and our first year we were 0-9, then 3-5-1. In those days, just about everyone on the team played three or four sports."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Dakota Fanning, the 2007 Kids Choice Award winner for favorite movie actress, is a Campbell Hall cheerleader.
Fanning has strong family ties to sports, as her mother played pro tennis and her father played minor league baseball. Her grandfather is former NFL quarterback Rick Arrington, and her aunt is ESPN reporter Jill Arrington.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Averaging 248.3 yards rushing per game, Malibu's Sean Conrad (1,490 yards, six games) has a shot to break into the Southern Section single-season top 10 if he keeps the pace and Malibu (5-1) can extend its season in the playoffs. Here is the list:
SOUTHERN SECTION SINGLE-SEASON RUSHING LEADERS
Rank Yards Player School Year
1. 4,495 Tyler Ebell, Ventura 2000
2. 3,586 Jermaine Marshall, Kilpatrick 1999
3. 3,523 David Dotson, Valley View 1991
4. 3,438 Chad Kackert, Grace Brethren 2004
5. 3,398 DeShaun Foster, Tustin 1997
6. 3,263 Chris Hanks, Cathedral 1997
7. 3,233 Toby Gerhart, Norco 2005
8. 3,219 Oscar Arzu, Sierra Vista 1996
9. 3,194 Darrell Scott, Moorpark 2006
10. 3,124 Kenyon Barner, Notre Dame/Riverside 2007
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Village Christian of Sun Valley's 6'10 forward Bak Bak committed to Cal today after officially visiting the school over the weekend according to Kevin Aust, the schools athletic director.
Bak transferred to Village Christian just over a year ago this month but did not play basketball on any level last season for the Crusaders.
Bak was a regular on the travel circuit and certainly gained steam in his recruitment with several nice showings last spring and summer.
Bak certainly makes the Crusaders a top small schools team in the region
El Camino Real returning shortstop Alex Mejia has committed to an Arizona baseball scholarship.
"Arizona is getting a quality player -- in the classroom and on the field," El Camino Real coach Josh Lienhard said. "He's a well rounded kid."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Rudy Lugo, who coached football at Canoga Park for 39 years, the last 25 as head football coach before retiring in 2007, died Tuesday at home after a long battle with cancer. He was 60.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
For years, neighbors always were reminding Paul Janson that he was living in John Elway's old house on Tulsa Street in Northridge, and Janson says he had a feeling the Hall of Fame quarterback from Granada Hills High would show up one day.
Sure enough, Elway did show up Monday, but Janson didn't expect an entourage of two dozen production workers that arrived with Elway as part of an upcoming TV show, "Homecoming."
"I heard the door knock and thought someone might be trying to sell me something, and it was John Elway saying hi and asking how I was doing - with 20-something camera people behind him," Janson said. "I was startled. I didn't want to let all of them in - just John -- because you know how it is: The beds weren't made, and I had my work files spread out all over the floor."
Janson and Elway hung out in the backyard, where Elway looked up and "reminisced about jumping off the roof into the pool and sneaking back home through the sliding glass door late at night," Janson said. "I actually talked to him for a long time, and he seems like a real nice guy."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Rojello "Rocky" Magdaleno, a longtime community baseball figure and the grandfather of 10-year Major League pitcher Russ Ortiz from Montclair Prep, died Tuesday. He was 84.
Magdaleno lettered in baseball and track at San Fernando High, served in WWII, and coached at various youth leagues in Van Nuys, North Hills and Encino. He also worked as a letter carrier.
"He had an influence on hundreds of kids," said grandson Shad Ortiz. "We did not have a dad in the picture, and he stepped up to be our father figure and male role model. I remember playing catch with him in our front yard in Van Nuys and going to Buddy's bataway on Van Nuys Boulevard, where it was seven pitches for a quarter."
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Best wishes to Taft of Woodland Hills football coach Matt Kerstetter's 1-year-old son, Tyler, who undergoes corrective hip surgery Thursday morning.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Lancaster's national soccer center is the site for the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Regional Championships on June 15-21. A crowd of up to 10,000 is expected, as the tournament is part of the U.S. Soccer National Championships, the USA's most prestigious national youth soccer tournament.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Austin Walker, a top returning junior shortstop at Crespi, committed to a UC Irvine baseball scholarship a couple of weeks back. Not to be outdone, three days later Walker's brother, Adam, a Crespi senior, committed to play Lacrosse at Div. III Fontbonne University in St. Louis.
gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com
Harvard-Westlake easily won game two, 25-15, and now lead 2-0 in a key Mission League match against rival Flintridge Sacred Heart.
The Wolverines have won three consecutive matches dating back to last year against the Tologs, who won league championships in 2003, 04, 05 and 06 before the Wolverines claimed the title last year.
The Wolverines won game one 25-22 and lead 22-11 in game two.
Too much powerful outside hitting and blocks up front.
Stay tuned for more updates....
Meeting for the first time since Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood beat Flintridge Sacred Heart of La Canada in a four game match in the Division I-A final last season, the teams are tied at 14 in game one of an important Mission League match.
Stay tuned.....
The entries for the 61st Mt. SAC Invitational have been posted. To find out which teams are competing in which races, click here (PDF file):
And to look at the complete race schedule for Friday and Saturday, click here (PDF file):
Quick observations on some of the races:
Race 64 (8:40 a.m. Saturday) -- Although the Saugus girls' varsity team is scheduled to run at 9:40 a.m., get there in time to see the Centurions compete in the JV national championship race. Although Danielle Hernando will be in Virginia attending a wedding, with Nicole Penick and Alex Hampton free from club soccer conflicts and scheduled to run in this race, Saugus possesses the necessary depth to sweep this event and the varsity sweepstakes race, similar to winning the sweepstakes and rated races at Woodbridge and the frosh/soph and varsity races in Clovis.
Race 66 (9:15 a.m. Saturday) -- Simi Valley's Liberty Miller is the only legitimate local presence in this girls' individual sweepstakes race, but a stellar matchup between Mission Prep of San Luis Obispo's Jordan Hasay and San Clemente's Alex Dunne could unfold.
Race 67 (9:40 a.m. Saturday) -- It will be interesting to see how much resistance, if any, Southern Section Div. I powers Dana Hills of Dana Point, Trabuco Hills of Mission Viejo and Great Oak of Temecula put up against Saugus in the girls' varsity team sweepstakes race.
Saugus clocked an all-time Mt. SAC course record of 89:34 -- with a 52-second separation between the five runners -- at last year's invitational, then returned to lower that mark to 88:22 at the Southern Section Div. I final, with a 38-second gap between No. 1 and No. 5.
West Ranch and Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta are among the 17 teams entered in this race.
Race 68 (10:05 a.m. Saturday) -- Southern Section Div. II heavyweights Loyola and Thousand Oaks square off for the first time in the boys' team sweepstakes race and will be joined by Div. I powers Buchanan of Clovis, Dana Hills of Dana Point and Arcadia.
Race 69 (10:25 a.m. Saturday) -- If the course isn't completely set ablaze by all the fast times being produced in the previous five races, then this field should do the trick.
The big rematch between Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta's Zack Torres (No. 1 in Div. I) and Foothill of Bakersfield's Chris Schwartz (No. 1 in Div. III) -- they were separated by a second at the Clovis Invitational -- headlines an incredible field that also includes Palma of Salinas' Tyre Johnson (No. 1 in Div. IV), Ayala of Chino Hills' Tyler Reed, Camarillo's Heyden Wooff, Lancaster's Pedro Zaragoza and Saugus' Alec Nelson and Brandon Jauregui.
Saugus graduate Katie Dunn suffered her first setback in six races Saturday for the Glendale Community College women's cross country team, finishing second to defending state champion Crystal Reed of Orange Coast College at the Santa Barbara City College Invitational.
But the Vaqueros -- ranked No. 3 in Southern California -- gained a better perspective on how they match up with No. 2 Orange Coast following a 45-54 loss in the team competition.
Reed, who lost to Dunn by 16 seconds Oct. 3 at the Southern California preview meet in Bakersfield, covered the 3-mile course Saturday in 18 minutes, 20 seconds.
The freshman Dunn, who began her career with wins at Ventura, Pierce, Cuesta, Bakersfield and the Western State Conference preview meet, was second in 18:54. But defending state champion Glendale had all five of its scoring runners finish ahead of Orange Coast's fifth runner and the Vaqueros were separated by 72 seconds, allowing them to close the gap considerably from the 45-point deficit between the teams in Bakersfield.
Justina Sadauskaite (19:22) took fourth, Brigette Fernandez (19:35) finished ninth, Angelina Gonzalez (20:03) was 19th and Rosa Deltoro (20:06) placed 22nd for Glendale, which competes next in the WSC championship meet Oct. 28 at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.
Dunn's opportunity for a third showdown with Reed will come at the Southern California finals Nov. 7 back in Bakersfield.