4 Area Football Players to Play in Shrine Game

Todd Preston of Westlake High heads a list of four area football players who have been selected to play for the South team in the 40th Shrine all-star game, scheduled for July 27 at the Rose Bowl.

Preston, a quarterback, is joined on the team by George Kase, a defensive lineman from Hart, Royal defensive back Tim Ross, and Selves Smith, a linebacker and running back from Quartz Hill.

Preston, who has signed with Cal, passed for 2,427 yards and 21 touchdowns last fall.

Smith was The Times’ Valley lineman of the year after rushing for 549 yards and leading Quartz Hill to the Southern Section Division I championship game. Smith has not committed to a college.

Ross signed with Colorado after leading Royal with five interceptions. Kase, a first-team All-Valley selection by the Times, has committed to UCLA.

The 57th Southern California Senior Sectional tennis championships will be held at The Racquet Centre in Studio City beginning Friday and running through April 14.

Bob Chappell of Woodland Hills will compete in the men’s 35 field. Steve Messmer and Art Santilli, both of Camarillo, are in the men’s 40. Tom Springer of Canoga Park is in men’s 55; John Bennett of Sherman Oaks, men’s 60; and Jack Simpson of Van Nuys, men’s 65.

Maria Denker of Studio City will compete in the women’s 60 and Eleanor Harbula of Sylmar is in the women’s 70.

There also will be doubles competitions and a father-son competition.

Kecia Gorman has been hired as the women’s basketball coach and assistant athletic trainer at Cal Lutheran. Gorman replaces Norm Chung, who resigned last month after nine seasons as coach.

Gorman, a graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was an assistant coach at Moorpark College in two sports in 1990 and 1991 and is currently an assistant for the Cal Lutheran softball team.

Bryan Marmion has joined the Cal Lutheran football staff as an assistant. A 1989 graduate of Linfield (Ore.) College, Marmion also played and coached there.

Along with current Cal Lutheran defensive coordinator Kyle Tarpenning, Marmion was a member of Linfield’s 1986 NAIA championship team.

Kim White, Cal Lutheran senior shortstop, was chosen the NAIA District 3 player of the week for the week ending March 23.

White was eight for 14 at the plate and reached base safely in four games, all Cal Lutheran victories.

White, from Burbank, added 43 points to her batting average and is now third in the district at .429.

Registration is under way for teams wishing to play in the Tarzana Park Basketball League.

There are no age, height or talent restrictions. Registration is open to organized teams only.

Information: 818-342-8570.

Members of the Cleveland High faculty and coaching staff will play a team of Los Angeles Raiders football players in a benefit basketball game Friday at 7 p.m.

Information: 818-349-8410, ext. 335.