Football: High school players face concussion risks

A new study published by the National Athletic Trainers' Assn. has concluded that high school football players sustain greater head accelerations after impact during play than college-level football players, which can lead to concussions and spine injuries, and urges coaches to teach proper tackling techniques to reduce head and neck injuries.

Here's the full article.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Baseball: American Legion playoffs are underway

The American Legion playoffs have begun in Long Beach, with games being played at Blair Field, Wilson and Paramount.

Opening scores: Paramount 3, Peninsula 0; El Segundo 13, Lakewood 7; La Mirada 7, South Torrance 1; Downey 5, Long Beach Wilson 3.

Today's schedule: At Blair, Paramount versus La Mirada, 5 p.m.; Downey versus El Segundo, 7:30 p.m. At Wilson, Lakewood versus South Torrance, 2 p.m.; Wilson versus Peninsula, 5 p.m.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Volleyball: AAU Junior Beach national championships this weekend

The 16th annual AAU Junior Beach Volleyball national championships will be held at Hermosa Beach Pier Saturday and Sunday.

The tournament is open to all boys and girls in two-person teams from 10 to 18 years old. You can register on line at www.aaubeach.org.

Over 200 teams from more than a dozen states are expected to participate in the tournament that begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: L.A. Jordan will test the officials in games

Working L.A. Jordan football games this fall is going to be challenging for officials because the Bulldogs have put together an offense that will be throwing multiple passes, using receivers that aren't normally eligible and doing just about anything and everything to confuse people.

"It was very bizarre," Gardena Serra Coach Scott Altenberg said of Jordan's offense earlier this week in a passing competition. "You didn't know who their quarterback was."

Coach Elijah Asante calls his offense ATW -- Attack The Weakness. His top player is quarterback-receiver-running back De'Shawn Beck.

There's going to be double and triple passes, balls bouncing on the ground behind the line of scrimmage and multiple quarterbacks. Asante is just hoping the officials know the rules before the game so his team doesn't get penalized on legal plays.

Jordan opens the season against Los Angeles Locke and has nonleague games against Anaheim Esperanza, Ventura St. Bonaventure and Santa Ana Mater Dei.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Southern Section reaches agreement with FSN West

The Southern Section and FSN West have reached agreement on a new one-year contract, clearing the way for a full schedule of high school football games to air on Prime Ticket this fall, Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton said Monday.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Football: Gardena Serra wins Santa Fe tournament

Gardena Serra established itself as one of the most talented teams with skill-position players on Saturday by defeating Lakewood in the championship game of the Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe tournament.

Serra also defeated Carson in the semifinals.

In other tournaments, Los Angeles Crenshaw defeated Los Angeles Cathedral to win its own tournament championship.

Mission Viejo defeated Inglewood in its own tournament championship. The Diablos also defeated Corona Santiago in the semifinals.

Oxnard Rio Mesa, Westlake Village Westlake and Simi Valley Royal all went 5-0 in the Rio Mesa tournament.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Mater Dei, Loyola finish high in ESPN RISE athletic rankings

Santa Ana Mater Dei finished No. 2 and Los Angeles Loyola No. 4 in the ESPN RISE Fab 50 rankings for overall athletic programs in 2009.

Also making the top 10 list were Long Beach Poly at No. 6 and Dana Hills at No. 9.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Big weekend ahead for high school sports

It's the busiest weekend yet for high school sports, with all-star football games, the top summer passing tournament and an all-star baseball game.

The Orange County North-South All-Star Football Game is set for Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Orange Coast College. It's Barnes vs. Barnes, with Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes coaching against his son, Tesoro Coach Brian Barnes.

On Saturday night, the Fiesta Bowl will take place, matching all-star senior players from Los Angeles County against the Inland Empire in a 7 p.m. game at Whittier College. Javier Cid of Los Angeles Roosevelt is coaching the L.A. team, with Anthony Rice of Ontario Colony directing the Inland Empire.

On Saturday at 9 a.m., the Edison passing tournament takes place. There won't be a better field of teams, led by the host Chargers, Oaks Christian, West Covina South Hills, Encino Crespi, Tesoro, Santa Ana Mater Dei and others.

Then, if you're not exhausted, on Saturday evening the Valley Invitational Baseball League holds its two all-star games at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Lake Balboa Birmingham.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Boys' basketball: Loyola's Williamson finds a new calling _ crew

Los Angeles Loyola's Warren Williamson might have been a starter for the basketball team, but he's found a new sport to compete in _ crew. He's headed to California and will try crew for the first time.

It's a good reminder that there are lots of athletic opportunities at the college level, and finding the right one is the key.

-- 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