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Devin Rodriguez, who batted .384 with 13 doubles last season as a junior for Newhall Hart, has committed to California. He plays first base for the Indians.
-- Eric Sondheimer
In a big boost to City Section schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District has set aside $2.4 million to start reimbursing schools for expenses for officials and security at sporting events.
Student body funds took a hit several years ago when the district removed soda machines from schools, taking away thousands of dollars that helped pay for officials and security. Principals had sought assurances at the time that the district might help make up for the decrease in revenue.
The City Section knows how much each school has been paying for security and officials, so that is supposed to help prevent any attempt by a school to pad those figures now that the district is paying for the expenses.
-- Eric Sondheimer
Fairfax High's Renardo Sidney will make a recruiting visit to Mississippi State next week and is also planning a trip to Nevada Las Vegas, his father says.
Sidney, a 6-foot-10 senior center, also has had conversations with USC and UCLA, but his father said Tuesday that neither is a front-runner. "We don't have a front-runner," he said.
Sidney Sr. hinted that he appreciates extra attention. "If you're recruiting a big-time player, you should recruit him like he's a big-time player and call him every day, not just once every two weeks... That's not interest."
--Lance Pugmire
--Renardo Sidney, right, is congratulated by teammate Jordan Weathers after making a crucial basket as Fairfax defeated Westchester in a February playoff game at USC's Galen Center.
-- Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times
The 12th annual OCO/PlyoCity Roundball Extravaganza, expected to feature more than 200 of the top girls' and boys' prep basketball players in Southern California, will be held Oct. 18 at Mission Viejo High.
Past participants include NBA center Tyson Chandler, former UCLA guard Cedric Bozeman and former Missouri guard Wesley Stokes. The daylong event starts at 9 a.m. with the ninth-grade girls' game and concludes with the elite boys' game at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and children. For more information, contact Mike Rangel at (949) 689-0807 or visit www.plyocity.com.
--Ben Bolch
Santa Margarita senior quarterback Ryan World became the fastest player in school history to reach 1,000 passing yards in a season, doing it in only four games after amassing 303 yards last week during the Eagles' 18-14 victory over La Costa Canyon. World broke the record previously held by Carson Palmer, who needed five games to reach the threshold in 1997.
World can now set his sights on Sean O'Brien, who passed for 2,000 yards in 10 games in 1992.
Santa Margarita (2-2) plays host to Temecula Chaparral (2-1), ranked No. 23 in the Southland by The Times, on Friday at Saddleback College. Pumas beware: The Eagles are 11-1 all-time against teams from Riverside County and have not lost to a team from that area since falling, 26-25, to Palm Desert in the 1991 Division V playoffs.
--Ben Bolch
Thursday, October 2nd
SOUTHERN SECTION
BIG VIII LEAGUE
Corona at #1 Corona Centennial, 7 p.m.
King at Corona Roosevelt, 7 p.m.
INLAND VALLEY LEAGUE
Ramona vs. La Sierra at Norte Vista, 7 p.m.
PACIFIC LEAGUE
Crescenta Valley vs. Burbank Burroughs at Glendale HS, 7 p.m.
NONLEAGUE
#24 Tesoro vs. El Dorado at Placentia Valencia, 7 p.m.
Colton vs. Silverado at Victor Valley, 7 p.m.
Corona del Mar vs. Magnolia at Western, 7 p.m.
Garden Grove Pacifica vs. JSerra at Saddleback College, 7 p.m.
Garden Grove Santiago vs. Santa Ana Valley at Santa Ana Stadium, 7 p.m.
Granite Hills at Cathedral City, 7 p.m.
Jurupa Valley vs. Don Lugo at Chino, 7 p.m.
Laguna Hills vs. Woodbridge at Irvine, 7 p.m.
Loara vs. Anaheim at Glover Stadium, 7 p.m.
Marina vs. Orange at El Modena, 7 p.m.
Palos Verdes vs. Fountain Valley at Orange Coast College, 7:30 p.m.
Schurr at California, 7 p.m.
Sonora vs. Rancho Alamitos at Bolsa Grande, 7 p.m.
Trabuco Hills at Gahr, 7 p.m.
8 MAN
NONLEAGUE
Los Angeles Lutheran vs. Price at Daniels Field (San Pedro), 7 p.m.
Friday, October 3rd
Taft's decision to hire a youth baseball coach with virtually no high school coaching experience has produced reactions of disbelief and laughter from other coaches.
It's either going to be a great hire or a great debacle. Scott Osder, a manager at West Hills Pony baseball, was selected over a veteran Westchester coach.
Taft was on the verge of breaking into the West Valley elite.
I think allowing a committee made up of players, parents and teachers who don't coach baseball is not the way to select a coach. But good luck to Osder. Maybe he'll surprise everyone.
I can't wait until he takes on Tom Meusborn and Chatsworth.
-- Eric Sondheimer
Is it just me, or does it seem as if Shaquelle Evans is the Southland's only high-profile receiver that hasn't made an oral commitment to a Division I program? Randall Carroll and De'Von Flournoy are heading to USC. Jemari Roberts is bound for Stanford. Ricky Marvay is staying close to home at UCLA.
As for Evans, well, the senior from Inglewood is still undecided, although a decision about his future could be on the horizon. According to IrishIllustrated.com, the 6-foot-1, 200-plus pound wideout visited Notre Dame last weekend, and it appears as if the Fighting Irish might have emerged as the front-runner to win his services.
If Evans ends up choosing South Bend, he'll join Southern California counterparts Cierre Wood from Santa Clara and Cajon's Marlon Pollard and bolster an already deep 2009 recruiting class for Notre Dame. It's also worth noting that he'll most likely be catching passes from former Oaks Christian standout Jimmy Clausen.
Colorado and Michigan are still in the mix. And the Trojans are a major player as well, along with numerous other powerhouse programs from across the country. Once Evans makes a decision, we'll make sure to pass along the news.
-- Sean Ceglinsky
Playing its first home game since teammate Vinnie Rodriguez sustained a fatal head injury on the same field, Boron routed L.A. Ribet Academy, 59-0, Saturday night.
Bobcats Coach Todd Fink said tributes included a "V2" painted on the field in memory of Rodriguez's first initial and jersey number and a stand along the sideline on which the team placed the sophomore running back and safety's jersey, where it will remain the rest of the season.
Rodriguez, 16, died Sept. 16 from head injuries sustained four days earlier during a game at Boron against Riverside California School for the Deaf.
"The kids are resilient and are doing a very good job of dealing with it," Fink said. "I think it was about as normal [an atmosphere] as we could expect."
Deandre Golden rushed for 129 yards in only five carries and Israel Lucas had 91 yards in nine carries for Boron. The Bobcats (4-0) will try to remain undefeated Friday when they play host to Edwards Air Force Base Desert (3-1), one of the neighboring schools that attended a fundraiser dinner last week to benefit Rodriguez's family.
--Ben Bolch
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