FALL SPORTS NOTEBOOK : If It’s Not One Stonerock in the Lead, It’s Another as Saugus Wins 2 Titles

Steve Spraker, the Saugus High cross-country coach, called it “an act of brotherly love.”

When Kirk Stonerock beat twin brother Daren in a double-dual meet Saturday against Canyon and Palmdale, he defeated the defending 3-A Southern Section two-mile champion.

“Daren was nursing a sore knee and kind of running along easy,” Spraker said. “Kirk was running with him and he just took off for the finish line. That’s brothers for you.”

The Saugus boys and girls cross-country teams both clinched Golden League titles by finishing 5-0.

Heather Scobie, a freshman, led the Centurions’ girls team to its 54th consecutive league win and eighth straight league championship.

Another freshman, Abrigail Villena, is helping Chaminade in its quest to repeat as the San Fernando Valley League tennis champion.

Villena, ranked seventh in the United States Tennis Assn. 14-under division, is playing No. 2 singles for the Eagles, who are 3-0 following Tuesday’s win over Louisville.

Villena and Faire Stanley, the No. 1 singles player who also is in the top 20 of the USTA 16-under division, give the Eagles a powerful front line. But Chaminade, ranked third in the Southern Section 2-A Coaches Poll, has many talented players.

“We’re lucky because we have depth down to No. 3 singles,” Chaminade Coach Sue Earl said. “Most teams in our division don’t get a lot of quality at that position. Sara Eipe has given us an added dimension.”

Eipe, a sophomore, made the switch to singles after playing No. 1 doubles last year with her sister, Anne. This season Anne Eipe is playing doubles with Michelle Hitch.

Chaminade reached the Southern Section finals last year but lost to La Quinta.

The goals just keep on coming for Royal water polo player Dain Hurst.

Hurst scored 10 goals Monday in the Highlanders’ 28-1 victory over rival Simi Valley as Royal lifted its Marmonte League record to 2-0.

Royal Coach Steve Snyder has not lost to Simi Valley in six years.

Royal takes on Thousand Oaks Friday in a match-up of the league’s two top teams.

Saugus High may be the Southern Section’s top-ranked 3-A cross-country team, but Hart isn’t far behind.

The two schools are in the same area, but compete in different leagues. They won’t meet until the Los Angeles County Championships on Oct. 19 at College of the Canyons.

The Indians, ranked second, raced to victory in the prestigious Staub Invitational in La Crescenta last weekend, beating second-place Palos Verdes by 61 points.

The Hart girls are led by defending 3-A champ Lisa Rizzo.

The Indians are 2-0 in Foothill League competition and they’re pursuing a third consecutive league championship.

Briefly

Rachelle Willner, a junior from Oakwood, had eight service aces in her volleyball team’s Liberty League win over Oakhill. . . . The Kennedy High girls volleyball team Monday began a quest for its 10th straight Valley 4-A league championship by defeating Cleveland 15-5, 10-15, 15-8. . . . Pete Nelson has coached cross-country at Kennedy for 15 years. His girls teams are undefeated in dual meets over the last six years and have won six consecutive Mid-Valley championships. His team got a scare last Thursday, but the streak continued as the Golden Cougars tied Narbonne. . . . Saugus cross-country runner Joe Devine, named California Freshman of the Year last year by California Track & Running News, has yet to compete for the Centurions because of a stress fracture in his right foot. . . . Last year, Thousand Oaks cross-country Coach Jack Farrell had a team that was virtually injury-free. It’s a different story this year. Three of his best five boys and his two top girls will not compete in this weekend’s Fountain Valley Invitational. The disabled list includes Doug Fairman, John Rogers, Paul McCarter, Jenny Bessel and Julie Hicks. . . . The Simi Valley Boys cross-country team won the Aztec Invitational in Orange County last weekend. The Pioneers’ Jim Zimmer was the individual winner. . . . Rio Mesa has won six straight cross-country meets.