Digest : Beattie Named Cross-Country Coach at Saugus

John Beattie will direct the Saugus High cross-country team this fall, becoming the Centurions’ second coach in as many years.

Beattie coached the boys’ cross-country team at Arcadia High the past four years.

Michael Parker, who replaced 13-year veteran Steve Spraker, coached Saugus during the 1988 season. Under Spraker, the Centurions won the Southern Section 3-A Division title in 1984 and 1985.

Dedan Thomas, the former Taft High point guard, has been ruled academically ineligible under the NCAA’s Proposition 48 standards but intends to attend University of Nevada-Las Vegas, which has signed him to a letter of intent. Should Thomas attend UNLV, he would forfeit a year of basketball eligibility.

Thomas scored above the required 700 on his SAT, but did not satisfy core curriculum standards, Taft Coach Jim Woodard said.

Former Cal State Northridge baseball Coach Terry Craven said Thursday that he has inquired about the head coaching vacancy at Chatsworth High.

The position was made available earlier this month when former Coach Bob Lofrano resigned to become an assistant at Pierce College.

Mission College has named Alberto Bru as its soccer coach. Bru, who was an assistant coach for the Free Spirit last year, played halfback and fullback for Cal State Los Angeles from 1982 to 1985.