Catholic Assn. Undecided on Members of New League

Although a proposal to create a new San Fernando Valley League for the 1988-89 school year is supported by the Catholic Athletic Assn., the schools that will form its membership might not be known until March.

Father Richard Loomis, principal at Murphy High and CAA president, said Wednesday that a final decision on releaguing of the 51 schools governed by the association was not reached at Tuesday’s meeting of the executive committee.

“This is not finalized by any means,” Loomis said. “A proposal came to the executive committee and we sent it back to the membership for further discussion and amending.

“The new league will be formed but the members aren’t certain. The proposal may be ratified at the Feb. 10 meeting or it may not be finalized until the March meeting.”

Crespi, Alemany, Notre Dame, Bell-Jeff, Chaminade, Harvard, St. Genevieve and La Salle had been mentioned under one releaguing proposal to form the San Fernando Valley League. Crespi backed out a few weeks ago and administrators at Alemany had second thoughts last week.

“Our coaches in the three main sports wanted to remain in the Del Rey League,” Alemany Athletic Director Dudley Rooney said. “The deciding factors are that we are happy with the Del Rey League and we are worried that the playoff grouping of the San Fernando Valley League will not be high enough.”

The Alemany basketball team, for example, currently in first place in the Del Rey League with a record of 5-0, would be in a league with St. Genevieve, which does not have a gymnasium and must practice outdoors.

However, Alemany never made those sentiments known to the CAA, according to Loomis. “It is misinformation to say that Alemany backed out of the new league,” he said. “There was not even an Alemany representative at the general meeting. We heard nothing from Alemany to the effect that they did not want to be included.”

The Del Rey League is designated 5-A in basketball, 4-A in baseball and belongs to the Big Five Conference in football. Bell-Jeff, Chaminade, Harvard, La Salle and St. Genevieve currently are members of the Santa Fe League, which is designated 1-A in basketball and baseball playoffs and belongs to the Desert-Mountain Conference in football.

The inclusion of Alemany likely would give the new league a higher playoff designation. Southern Section Administrator Bill Clark said those designations are determined by the strongest teams in a league.

“Historically the playoff committee has gone with the strength of the strongest team in determining groupings,” said Clark, who added that playoff groupings for the San Fernando Valley League would be determined early next year.

If Alemany remains in the Del Rey League, Notre Dame also might elect to remain.

“The San Fernando Valley League would be better with Alemany in it,” Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin Rooney said. “I was hoping for Alemany, Crespi, St. Francis and us as the core. It didn’t turn out and now we feel stranded.”

Coaches at Notre Dame also are opposed to belonging to a league of a lower playoff grouping. “I call the new league the Sunshine Valley League,” basketball Coach Mick Cady said sardonically. “We may be 1-A, but everyone will be very, very happy.”

Loomis, for one, would be pleased to see the new league formed without many more problems.

“I am very much in favor of a league central to the Valley,” he said. “It’s a tremendous idea. The league gives all the schools involved an opportunity to grow. It’s very promising with or without Alemany and Notre Dame.”