Football: USC gets commitment from Kaiser's Brown

Anthony Brown, a 5-foot-10 cornerback-running back from Frontana Kaiser, has committed to USC. He made a big impression at a USC camp three weeks ago.

Several other players from the Inland Empire have also made commitments, including Ontario Colony receiver Kenneth Scott with Utah and Riverside North receiver Dres Anderson with Utah.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Fiesta Bowl set for July 11 at Whittier College

Things got ugly the last time an all-star football team from Los Angeles County played its Inland Empire counterparts. The "Gridiron War" had to be halted with 11 minutes remaining in the game after a pair of brawls broke out last month at Long Beach City College.

Here's hoping the Fiesta Bowl, matching another group of L.A. County all-stars against top I.E. players at 7 p.m. July 11 at Whittier College, provides the kind of good, clean fun that these games are supposed to be about.

Players for the Inland Empire team include Corona Centennial wide receiver GeShun Harris and offensive lineman Ben Letcher and Chaparral inside linebacker/quarterback Andrew Taylor and defensive back Zach Stephens.

The L.A. County team includes Long Beach Poly defensive back Ryan Willis and Roosevelt quarterback Jesse Diaz. Roosevelt's Javier Cid will coach the L.A. County team and Colony's Anthony Rice will coach the Inland Empire team.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-17. Children under age 6 get in free. For more information and complete rosters, click here.

--Ben Bolch

Football: Another Nunes quarterbacks Upland to title

Stanford-bound quarterback Josh Nunes from Upland showed up for the Beverly Hills tournament Saturday to watch his younger brother, Justin, take over the quarterbacking duties, and Justin did something Josh didn't do last summer _ direct Upland to the Beverly Hills tournament title.

Justin, a 6-foot-1 junior, guided the Highlanders to a 16-14 victory over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in the championship game. Afterward, the Nunes family drove Josh to Stanford to begin classes.

Also starring for the Highlanders was receiver-defensive back Gianni Olivas and defensive back Corey Sims.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: All-star game ends with a brawl

There are lots of reasons senior all-star football games are slowly disappearing, but one of them is that the players like to get into fights.

It happened again Saturday night in the "Gridiron War" in Long Beach. The game was halted with 11 minutes left because of a second brawl. Here's the complete account.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: It's Inland Empire vs. L.A. and O.C. on Saturday

Which area in Southern California produces the best football players?

You might find out Saturday at Long Beach Veterans Stadium when the East Inland Empire All-Stars play the West Los Angeles and Orange County All-Stars in the 10th Annual Gridiron War All-Star Classic. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Among those scheduled to participate for the Inland team are Corona Centennial quarterback Taylor Martinez, The Times' player of the year, as well as wide receiver Ricky Marvray and Arthur Burns.

The L.A./O.C. team features L.A. City Section player of the year James Boyd of L.A. Jordan and high-powered Servite running back Greg Portis.

General admission tickets are $12, children and students with ID will be admitted for $8 and children 5 years old and younger can get in free.

--Ben Bolch

Football: Kaiser's Shirley selected to U.S. Army All-American game

Fontana Kaiser linebacker/defensive end Josh Shirley has been selected to participate in the U.S. Army All-American All-Star game in January.

--Ben Bolch

Baseball: Crespi holds on for 7-5 victory

After giving up a two-out single to David Andriese, Crespi's Ryon Healy retired Ryan Boeger on a fly ball to right fielder Michael Hubbard to close out the Celts' 7-5 victory over Redlands East Valley this afternoon in a Southern Section Division II baseball semifinal at L.A. Valley College.

Crespi (20-11) will play the winner of the other semifinal between Huntington Beach and Chino Hills at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Angel Stadium.

Celts starter John Kearns (4-2) picked up the victory over the Wildcats despite allowing five runs in six innings and committing an error that keyed Redlands East Valley's three-run second inning.

Josh Mason and Hubbard drove in two runs apiece off Jeremy Perez (9-1) as part of Crespi's six-run third inning. Healy drove in a run with a first-inning single and picked up the save.

--Ben Bolch

Baseball: Healy to try to close it out for Crespi

Crespi is turning to Ryon Healy to try to close out its Southern Section Division II semifinal against Redlands East Valley after starter John Kearns gave up five runs in six innings.

Leading, 7-5, the Celts need three outs to advance to Saturday's championship at Angel Stadium.

--Ben Bolch

Baseball: Crespi needs only three more outs

Crespi is three outs away from advancing to Angel Stadium on Saturday for the Southern Section Division II championship.

Celts starter John Kearns has had his shaky moments but he's still in the game, with Crespi leading 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning at L.A. Valley College.

Redlands East Valley has used a pair of relievers after starter Jeremy Perez departed after the third inning.

--Ben Bolch

Baseball: Redlands East Valley isn't done

It's a back-and-forth affair at L.A. Valley College, where Redlands East Valley has rallied with two runs in the fourth inning to make it a ballgame again.

Rico Alanis' two-run single past diving third baseman Austin Walker pulled the Wildcats to within 7-5 against Crespi in their Southern Section Division II semifinal.

Redlands East Valley squandered a chance for more runs when Clayton Goodrich lined into an inning-ending double play with runners on first and second.

--Ben Bolch