Sports Briefs : Ron Palmer Returns as Poly Coach

Ron Palmer is returning to Poly High School as boys basketball coach. Palmer, named by Principal Wayne Piercy to replace Chris Kinder, coached the Jackrabbits from 1974 through 1984, compiling a 270-51 won-lost record. He left Poly after winning the state championship to become men’s coach at Cal State Long Beach and was 23-64 in three seasons. He resigned in 1987.

“After being away for a couple of years, I thought it was about time I got back into basketball,” said Palmer, who has been teaching at a guidance school in the Long Beach Unified School District and coaching golf at Wilson High. “I’m happy to be back at Poly; Poly is where it all happened for me.”

“We expect big things,” Piercy said. “The school is excited about Ron coming back.”

Kinder, Palmer’s former assistant, had a 77-53 record and won two Moore League titles.

Palmer will inherit a team that has four returning starters, including all-league forward Melvin Jones and center Willie McGinest.

605 All-Star Football Game June 30

The annual 605 East-West All-Star Football Game will be played at 7:30 p.m. June 30 at La Mirada District Stadium. Sponsored by area Kiwanis clubs, it will feature graduating high school seniors on teams from opposite sides of the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway. Proceeds will provide last year’s 38 participating schools with scholarships.

Dave Newell of Bell Gardens High School will coach the West. His top players will include Poly quarterback Michael Carter, Dominguez running back Kenneth Barnes, Bellflower wide receiver Kevin Lazard, El Rancho running back Ralph De LaTorre and Bell Gardens lineman David Ramos.

Phil Bravo of Whittier Christian, the East coach, will have quarterbacks Greg Willig of St. Paul and Jeremy Sullivan of California, along with four outstanding linebackers--Chuck Ortega of St. Paul, Chris McHenry of La Mirada, Eric Neal of Santa Fe and Steve Hayes of Cerritos.

Admission is $5.

High School Baseball Playoffs Start

No. 1-seeded Lakewood High School will open the CIF Southern Section 5-A Division baseball playoffs at home at 3:15 p.m. Friday against Crescenta Valley (12-12). The Lancers, champions of the Moore League, are 22-3. In other 5-A games involving Southeast/Long Beach area teams, Millikan (17-8) will host Palos Verdes (14-11), St. Paul (14-11) will be at Pasadena (13-7) and Wilson will be at Mater Dei (20-5).

In 4-A games, Downey (17-7) will host Hemet (19-6), Cerritos (22-6) will be at home against Northview (15-10) and Gahr (16-12) will play at Walnut (16-9).

In 3-A, top-seeded Artesia, the 22-3 Suburban League champion, will play at home against Arroyo (10-14-1), La Serna (19-7) will host Montclair (17-8), Glenn (14-10) will be at Trabuco Hills (14-7), El Rancho (19-2) will host Corona (14-7-1) and Bellflower (13-10) will play at Norco (18-7).

In 2-A, Whittier Christian (15-7) has a bye and Valley Christian (15-5-2) will host Atascadero (16-9).

In Small Schools, top-seeded Leffingwell Christian (16-3) will host Claremont of Garden Grove (9-8) and Avalon (10-7) will be home against Pioneer Baptist (8-6).

49er a Conference Softball All-Star

Second baseman Lisa Pederson of Cal State Long Beach has been named to the All-Big West Conference softball first team. A junior from Cypress, Pederson batted .293. Two 49ers made the second team--freshman pitcher Ruby Flores, who had a 15-9 record with a 0.79 earned-run average, and senior outfielder Chris Sison, who hit .270.

Montebello Bicycle Races Scheduled

Montebello’s fourth annual Bicycle Classic Criterium will be held Saturday at Henry Acuna Park, 1700 W. Victoria Ave. The first of 10 races will start at 7:30 a.m. Advanced and beginning riders will participate in the U.S. Cycling Federation event designed to help support the Summer Youth Employment Program. More than 600 riders competed last year. For more information, call 725-1200, Ext. 430.