SportsScope : Hawthorne Begins Race for Sixth Consecutive CIF Boys Track Title

Hawthorne High School will try for its sixth straight CIF boys track title (and fourth straight at the 4-A level) Saturday in the divisional meets at Cerritos College in Norwalk starting at 11 a.m. Muir High should be Hawthorne’s top competition. The Cougars remain the class of the CIF in speed events. Robert Carroll has the CIF’s top time in 100 meters (10.6) and is fourth in 200 (21.72). Sophomore Curtis Conway is right behind, ranking third in 100 (10.78) and fifth in 200 (21.82). Travis Hannah ranks third in 400 meters (47.8) and is defending meet champion.

Hawthorne also has the top times in both relays, running 40.91 in 400 meters and 3:12.35 in the 1,600 relay, about five seconds better than the closest competition. And in the hurdles, Hawthorne’s Yke Vallery is fourth in the 110 highs (14.61) and fifth in the 300 intermediates (38.25). He won the intermediate hurdles title as a junior. Teammate Dean Dunbar also qualified in the high hurdles.

In 2-A, defending champ Morningside has the third-best time in the overall CIF in each relay, and for the Monarch girls Althia Moses set a divisional record in the triple jump last week at 39-9.

Andy Lopez of Cal State Dominguez Hills was named coach of the year on the All-West Region Division II baseball team, and two Toros were named to the first team--right fielder Jon Beuder and right-handed pitcher Mike Aspray. Shortstop Mike Perryman, outfielder Fred Hanker and relief pitcher Chris Haslock were named to the second team.

Jorge Pedre, who set Harbor College records for home runs, runs batted in and hits, was named player of the year in the Southern California Athletic Conference, and Harbor Coach Jim O’Brien was named conference co-coach of the year with Steve Alonzo of Mt. San Jacinto. Pedre, a sophomore catcher who transferred from West Los Angeles College, batted .532 with 16 home runs and 70 RBI to lead Harbor to a 23-4 record. Also named to conference first team were sophomore pitcher Jim Hudson (8-3), sophomore infielder Kevin Higgins (.461, 15 HR) and sophomore outfielder Derek Sholl (.354). Second-team selections are pitcher Dave Haggard and infielders James Sherman, John Chung and Will Parsons--all sophomores except Parsons, a freshman.

Six El Camino College swimmers received junior college All-America honors at the state meet this month. The only man honored was Vernon Long, who qualified in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke. The top El Camino woman was Tammy Stoner, a two-year All-American who qualified for All-American status in 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard breaststroke, 100 breaststroke, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. Kathy Bangasser, also a two-year All-American, qualified in both relays, three-meter diving and one-meter diving. Theresa Connolly qualified on both relay teams and the 100 backstroke, Kellie Stewart qualified as part of both relay teams and Katie Rubcic qualified in diving.

Pitcher Denise Biller of Cal State Dominguez Hills was named to the first team of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. all-conference softball team, which is dominated by players from national champion Cal State Northridge. Second-team selections included the Lady Toros’ Patty Bosnak at pitcher, Joann Miller at catcher and Maria Romero in the outfield.