High School Roundup : Alim Steps Down as Sweetwater Football Coach

Gene Alim, who coached the Sweetwater High School football team to consecutive San Diego Section championships in 1983 and 1984, has stepped down as coach, his mother, Maria Alim, confirmed Wednesday night.

It was reported Wednesday that Alim, 35, was seeking to pursue business interests in the South Bay area of San Diego.

Alim had an 80-11-2 record in eight seasons at the National City school. His teams won 36 straight games from 1983 to 1985, and his 1983 team had 9 shutouts, which is tied (with El Camino) as the county’s best. His 1983 team allowed 27 points in 10 games, a section record for fewest points allowed in a season.

In his eight seasons, only his first team, which went 7-2, didn’t make the playoffs.

Of the 11 losses, one was by forfeit to Morse in the opening game of the 1983 season. Of the other 10, six of the teams that beat Sweetwater wound up playing for the division 3-A championship.

When Chula Vista defeated Sweetwater in the final game of the league season in 1986, the defeat kept the Devils from completing six straight regular-season schedules without a loss.

Last season Sweetwater went 9-3, won the Mesa League title and advanced to the section’s 3-A semifinals.

Alim will continue to teach Spanish at Sweetwater. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

BASEBALL

Palomar League:

Vista 5, Torrey Pines 0--Jerry Stafford pitched a one-hitter and struck out 14 to lead host Vista (7-9-1, 1-2) past No. 3-ranked Torrey Pines. Bobby Kennedy’s triple in the first inning was the only hit Torrey Pines (14-2, 1-2) managed off Stafford, who walked two.

Mt. Carmel 7, Orange Glen 2--Mark Van Aelstyn tripled in two runs and Eric Olander hit a two-run home run for host Mt. Carmel (12-9, 2-1). Joe Brownholtz (5-1) took a one-hitter into the fifth inning. Byron Klemaske pitched the final two innings for Mt. Carmel and struck out 4 of the 6 batters he faced. Orange Glen is 6-10-1, 0-2.

Poway 12, San Dieguito 5--Steve Wrenn and Bill Wraith hit two-run homers to highlight a seven-run seventh-inning rally for visiting Poway (9-5, 3-0). Kevin Magruder had 3 hits and 3 stolen bases for Poway and Wrenn had 4 hits. San Dieguito is 1-8, 0-2.

Avocado League:

Ramona 8, Oceanside 7--Jamie Gibson scored on a passed ball to cap a three-run rally in the seventh for host Ramona (8-4, 2-1). Gibson, who was 3 for 4, doubled to drive in the first run of the inning. Ty Wilson was 2 for 3 with a solo home run for Ramona. Oceanside is 5-8, 0-3.

Escondido 8, San Marcos 3--Tom Afenir had 3 hits, including a solo home run and 3 RBIs, for Escondido at San Marcos. Winning pitcher Andy Martin hit a two-run home run. Escondido is 7-7, 1-2. San Marcos is 7-4-2, 2-1.

Carlsbad 5, San Pasqual 2--Reed Pippen had two hits and two RBIs and Adrian Lopez pitched a seven-hitter to lead visiting Carlsbad (9-4, 3-0). Alfredo Amador had two hits, including a solo home run for San Pasqual (6-7, 2-1).

Rancho Buena Vista 11, El Camino 2--Junior Moi was 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs for Rancho Buena Vista at El Camino. Moi was the only Rancho player with more than one hit. Winning pitcher John Robirds (1-2) had 2 RBIs at the plate and allowed 3 hits in 4 innings on the mound. Rancho is 6-8, 2-1. Scott Oatsvall was the loser for El Camino (1-12, 0-3).