All-American Will Not Miss Soccer Playoff

A schedule change will allow Craig Hampton, an All-American soccer player at Simi Valley High, to play in the Pioneers’ first-round playoff match Friday and not miss a national training camp originally slated for the weekend.

The senior midfielder, named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America and Parade magazine, missed seven high school matches last month because he competed for the U. S. national team in scrimmages against Mexican teams in Guadalajara.

Simi Valley Coach Andy Silva said that the camp was postponed two weeks from the original date and that Hampton would play in the Pioneers’ first-round Southern Section 4-A Division match at home against West Torrance on Friday.

However, the national camp might conflict with the 4-A championship match March 3.

The top-seeded Pioneers are 25-1-0.

The first-round City Section 4-A Division boys’ basketball playoff game between Taft and Dorsey highs will be played at Los Angeles High on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Dorsey, which finished second in the Southern League and was entitled to play host to Taft, the third-seeded team from the North Valley, moved the game because its gym is too small.

The City Section requires a seating capacity of 1,000 for all playoff games.