High School Roundup : Taft Runners Hand Belmont Stunning Loss

Juniors Brian Godsey and Kipp Ortenburger placed first and second Thursday at Pierce College as Taft High defeated Belmont, 20-45, to hand the Sentinels their first dual-meet loss in eight years.

Godsey ran a personal best of 15 minutes, 38 seconds over the three-mile course, and Ortenburger clocked 16:04 as the Toreadors upset the seven-time defending City Section champions.

David Rodriguez (fourth in 16:23), Mike Krentzin (sixth in 16.33) and Torino Carr (seventh in 16:41) rounded out the scoring for the Toreadors, the frosh-soph champions in last year’s City meet.

“It’s a big win,” Taft Coach Mel Hein said. “We’ve been looking forward to this meet since the day after last year’s City finals. But it’s still very early in the year. A lot can happen between now and November.”

The City finals are scheduled in November at Pierce. Taft will attempt to snap Belmont’s lengthy reign and become the first Valley team to win the boys’ varsity title since Chatsworth in 1978.

In other meets:

Brian Gastelum of Birmingham posted the fastest time of the day, running 15:32, as the Braves beat Canoga Park at Pierce.

Cheri-Lee Segal of Birmingham had the fastest girls’ time of the day, running 21:06.

WATER POLO

Harvard 11, Downey 2--Three Saracens scored two goals each and goalie Larry Bercutt made 13 saves as Harvard advanced to the second round of the South Coast tournament at Irvine High.

Eric Deutsch, Jim Toring and Brian Border each had a pair of goals. Harvard (9-1) is ranked fourth in the Southern Section 3-A Division.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Sylmar d. Wilson, 15-11, 15-10, 15-8--Yolanda Beller had 10 kills, four blocks and four service aces to lead the Spartans (4-0) to a nonleague win at home.

Alemany d. Hart, 15-1, 15-0, 15-9--Alison Avery (13 kills) and Kim Avery (eight kills) teamed to lead visiting Alemany (3-2) in a nonleague match. Kim Chicagus had 12 service points in the second game, including four aces.

Cleveland d. Hollywood, 15-11, 15-13, 15-11--Monica Martin had four kills and Michele Diana had three to lead Cleveland (4-0) in a nonleague match at Hollywood.

Louisville d. Agoura, 15-8, 15-5, 15-9--Louisville (5-1), ranked second in the Southern Section 4-A, was led by Torie Sumner with eight kills in a nonleague game at Agoura. The Chargers are ranked first in the 3-A.