FALL SPORTS NOTEBOOK : Pair of Faces Hard to Beat at Saugus

New faces are certain to emerge as the 1985-86 high school year unfolds, but it’s a pair of almost identical ones that are still in the forefront of the fall sports lineup.

Daren and Kirk Stonerock of Saugus High are twin brothers who enjoy doing the same thing: winning cross-country races.

Daren is the defending Southern Section 3-A division champion in the two-mile and was runner-up in cross country. Kirk, who was second to his brother in the two-mile, is competing for the Saugus cross-country team for the first time.

The Stonerocks are joined by returnees Mike Fretz, Joe Devine, Scott Thomas and Martin Disenbacher, who give the Centurions an almost unbeatable team.

If the Saugus team stays healthy, the defending Southern Section 3-A champions are almost certain to give Steve Spraker his fourth Southern Section championship in 11 years as coach.

Thousand Oaks teams are noted for getting stronger as the season progresses. Coach Jack Farrell’s defending Southern Section 4-A champions are expected to once again be among the best in the Marmonte League despite the loss of top runner Jim Harvath to graduation. The Lancers will receive an early test today when they take on Simi Valley in a double-dual meet at Moorpark College at 4 p.m.

“We’re young this year and really have our work cut out us,” said Farrell, who is going for his third Southern Section championship as he begins his 11th year at Thousand Oaks. “Our top five guys will have to run close together. Otherwise, we may have some problems.”

John Cox is the only senior in the Lancers’ top five of juniors Doug Fairman, Dave Helfdon, John Rogers and sophomore Paul McCarter.

Four top performers return to Simi Valley from last season. Seniors Jim Zimmer, Neff McGhie, Chris Pressman and Adrian Ruiz along with junior Travis Biggs are looking to give Coach Jim McCullough his second Southern Section championship.

In the City section, Birmingham High will be led by Jeff Korn and Sven Haug, two students from West Germany.

In girls cross-country, Newbury Park’s Melissa Sutton, the defending Southern Section 4-A Individual champion, will continue to battle Thousand Oaks’ Christi Farrell. Heather Scobie, a freshman at Saugus, is the top newcomer in the Valley. She set a course record of 17:34 for three miles at last week’s Woodbridge Invitational in Orange County.

Westlake’s girls tennis team won the last year’s Southern Section 3-A title after finishing second in the Marmonte League to Thousand Oaks. Those same teams figure to battle it out again this year.

Westlake Coach Connie Flanderka has sisters Kelly and Kristy Stuart playing No. 1 and 2 singles with Sherie Mitchell giving the Warriors added depth.

Thousand Oaks, however, is even stronger than last year. Rachel Collins, Jodie Engen and Constance McKenna, the team’s top three singles players last year, are all back. The key to the team’s success may be freshman Kirstin Smith.

Chaminade lost to La Quinta in the Southern Section 2-A finals last year and figures to be the Valley-area team to beat in the 2-A division again this season.

Royal has won the Marmonte League water polo championship the last four years, and the Highlanders should continue to dominate this season with an experienced team out to avenge a playoff loss to Crespi last year.

Dain Hurst, Rob Toring and Greg Frazier give Coach Steve Snyder a trio of returning all-league performers, all whom are capable of playing the demanding two-meter position.

The key for Royal will be how well goalie Todd Jacobson performs in place of Steve Kelly, who is now playing at Cal State Long Beach.

Crespi tied for the Del Rey League championship last year and got by Royal before losing in the second round of the playoffs.

The Celts should be good again this season if Pat Turley can continue to control opponents in the two-meter position.

When he’s not scoring himself, Turley will be looking for drivers Nick Ro, John Edds and Chappie Dehaven.

The Kennedy girls volleyball team is after its 10th consecutive North Valley League title under Coach Mike Stanton.

Last year, the Cougars lost in the first round of the City playoffs to eventual finalist University.

This year, Stanton is implementing a 5-1 offense--a simplified version of the system used by the United States women’s volleyball team in the 1984 Olympic Games.

It’s a rebuilding year for Kennedy with outside hitter Denel Andrews, passer Ruth Stage and setter Yuki Takahashi returning from last year’s squad. Southern Section schools that figure to contend for titles include Westlake, Chaminade, Louisville and Campbell Hall.

Notes

The Kennedy girls volleyball league championship win streak is impressive, but there are some other Valley-area schools also trying to keep streaks alive. The Saugus girls cross country team hasn’t lost a league meet in seven years. The Westlake girls junior varsity tennis team has won 64 straight matches, dating back to Oct. 13, 1984. . . . Canyon, Hart and Saugus high schools will jointly host the Los Angeles County Cross Country Championships Oct. 19 at College of the Canyons. Ninety schools throughout Southern California have already expressed an interest in attending. . . . Royal water polo Coach Steve Snyder took an all-star team to China this summer that included Royal’s Dain Hurst and Crespi’s Chappie DeHaven.. . . After a tournament in Orange County last weekend, Snyder took his entire team to Huntington Beach for some postgame bodysurfing . . . Last add Royal water polo: Former player Randy Von Feldt is a freshman playing for traditionally powerful Stanford University.