Sports Shorts

Gahr High School--Ten baseball players, including five from the varsity, have been disciplined for taking part in a ring that counterfeited absence clearance stamps. The clearance stamps are required of students who return to classes after missing school. Two of the five varsity players were forced to sit out games because of their involvement. One player missed three games. The Gahr varsity, which led the San Gabriel Valley League at the time, dropped two of the three games. “We feel we are ready to come back now,” said Coach Tom Bergeron.

RADIO Money Radio--KMNY-AM, Pomona, which offers a format of financial news and sports, hopes to broadcast both Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach football and basketball action this fall. Some Long Beach games were broadcast on the station last season when it was known as KWOW. According to Operations Director Bob Gourley, the station also is considering broadcasting a Friday night “prep football game of the week” that would include some games between teams in the Southeast area of Los Angeles County.

RUSSIANS COMING Slam ‘N Jam League--A touring Russian junior national basketball team will meet a team composed of some of the area’s top players who compete in the Compton-based league. The event is set for May 24, but a site has not been determined. Ronnie Coleman of Dominguez High and Duane Cooper of Lakewood High have been selected to the Slam ‘N Jam team, as has former Lynwood resident Ricky Butler of Ocean View High.

HAWAIIAN INVITATION Poly High School--The boys basketball team has accepted an invitation to compete in the Kamehameha High School basketball tournament. The round-robin affair is scheduled for Dec. 28-30 in Honolulu. Six teams are entered and each is guaranteed three games. The Jackrabbits must raise $7,500 to cover expenses, but Coach Chris Kinder said: “We are more than halfway there in pledges.”

STREAK SNAPPED Compton High School--A 6-3 baseball victory at Wilson High recently snapped a 32-game Moore League losing streak. Compton High had not beaten a league opponent in more than two years. The Tarbabes have since beaten Poly High, the first time since 1985 that they have won two games in a year.

SOUTHERN SECTION CIF Golf Tournament--The section has chosen the California Country Club in Whittier for its first invitational golf tournament, scheduled for Aug. 27. The fund-raising event will cost $150 per player, with the field limited to 200 players.

Construction--The building of a new wing of offices at CIF headquarters in Cerritos is expected to be completed by the end of the school year. Construction is being completed by A.J. Paddleford and Son Construction Co. of Cerritos/Long Beach, which donated the funds for the project.

Academic Awards--Athletic teams from Whitney and La Serna high schools highlight selections to the annual Academic Awards Program, which honors teams with the best combined grade point average of their players. Winners from Whitney High included boys swimming (3.51 GPA), water polo (3.60), basketball (3.35), baseball (3.51), cross country (3.77) and tennis (3.57). At La Serna, the girls volleyball (3.41), soccer (3.25) and tennis (3.73) teams were chosen. The Southern Section hosts 21 team sports.

TITLE TIME Cerritos College--When the Falcon baseball team won the South Coast Conference title recently, it completed a sweep of the three major men’s sporting events. Earlier, Cerritos won the SCC football title and shared the basketball title with Compton College. The Falcons also took first in wrestling and shared a tennis title. The baseball title was the school’s 18th in 30 seasons.

Long Beach City College--At least one Viking team did not struggle through its first season in the South Coast Conference. The men’s track team, guided by Coach Ron Allice, recently won the Southern California team championship for the seventh time in nine years. Earlier, Long Beach won the South Coast Conference title.

FOOTBALL CHANGES Whittier High School--Mike Fitch has resigned at Brethren High to accept the Cardinal coaching job. He replaces Gene Zeller, who resigned. Whittier was 2-7 last season. Brethren was 7-4.

Brethren High School--Ed Cashman has been chosen to replace Fitch. Cashman is a teacher at the school.

Bell High School--Ray Galarze has been appointed coach. He replaces Ray Rodriguez, who resigned to go into private business. Galarze was the school’s offensive line coach last season. He is the third coach the school has had in less than three years.

Downey High School--Mark Karges has been chosen coach. He replaces Gary Stempson. Karges was the coach at Madison High in Rexburg, Idaho, where his teams won numerous state titles.

Lynwood High School--Larry Anderson has resigned to take the head job at Katella High School in Anaheim. Anderson was 47-10-2 in five years at the school. Katella has not had a winning season in 17 years.

SIGNINGS Derek Stott, Brethren High School--The senior quarterback has been offered a scholarship to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Ron Fischer, Cerritos College--The sophomore has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Eastern Washington University. He led the Falcons in rebounding.

Damon Andrews, Cerritos College--The sophomore forward will join Fischer at Eastern Washington University.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK Darol Roundy--Retiring after 30 years as an officials assignor with the Southern Section, he was asked if he would do anything differently if he could do it over again: “I leave with one regret. That I never was able to have 300 officials (available) in all sports.”