Cal Lutheran Practice to Be Battery Operated

The Cal Lutheran baseball team is holding an open Midnight Madness practice Saturday, inviting spectators to watch late-night infield drills while eating pizza and listening to music from a disc jockey.

There was, however, one problem to overcome before the event could be held: Cal Lutheran’s baseball field does not have lights.

No matter. Coach Rich Hill and players will park their cars in a circle around the infield, using the vehicles’ headlights to illuminate the field.

“We’re going to get the campus community excited about the upcoming baseball season,” Hill said.

Indeed, Cal Lutheran has reason to be excited. The Kingsmen, with six Division I transfers added to an already strong group of returnees, are ranked seventh in Collegiate Baseball’s NCAA Division III preseason poll.

Cal Lutheran has been holding three practices a day for the past seven days. The Kingsmen will open against Christ College of Irvine on Feb. 8.

INSTANT OFFENSE

Ventura reserve forward Maurice Smith concluded a productive week of outside shooting Saturday when he made five baskets from long range in a 77-63 win over visiting Valley. His 17-point performance followed by three days a 21-point effort in a win over West L.A.

Coach Philip Mathews expressed little surprise with Smith’s production off the bench.

“He’s supposed to do that,” Mathews said. “Firepower from the bench. He knows what he has to do and he’s improving game by game.”

Smith is part of a quintet that typically enters the game to sustain Ventura’s high-intensity defense and provide an offensive lift.

“It’s like five fresh troops coming in,” Mathews said of the group, which includes Smith, Jabari Anderson, William Johnson, D’Mitri Rideout and Donyhel Johnson. “They’re supposed to go in and play defense, run the court and keep the pressure on.”

The system is working. Ventura (21-4) is the top defensive team in the Western State Conference, yielding an average of less than 68 points a game.

GROUND ZERO

The Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team, still searching for its first win of the season after 19 losses, is hopeful that a two-game trip to Southern Utah on Friday and Saturday will mean the end of the drought.

Northridge defeated the Thunderbirds in two of three meetings last season and this year’s Southern Utah club entered the week 2-12.

“I’m optimistic about this weekend,” Northridge Coach Kim Chandler said. “Despite losing, the kids are learning a little more every game and maturing each game. We’re making ground and I think anyone who’s seen us play will agree with that.”

The Matadors likely will be without starting guard Christine Rumfola, who is recovering from a sprained ankle. Rumfola (8.8 scoring average) is the only Northridge player to start all 19 games.

MAKING A POINT

Although her 5-foot-4 stature would indicate otherwise, Valley basketball player Falicia Stanley had not played the point guard position in high school or college before this season.

“She’s always had point-guard size and off-guard style,” Valley Coach Doug Michelson said of the sophomore from Kennedy High. “She was a classic wing player.”

But when Valley point guard Katina Mines missed a game because of flu last month, Stanley was asked to direct the offense and, 11 games later, has yet to relinquish the job.

Entering Wednesday’s game against Santa Monica, Stanley was averaging 9.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 steals a game for Valley (19-3), last season’s state runner-up.

“She’s getting us into our offense each time down the court,” said Michelson, who moved Mines to the off-guard position. “(Stanley’s) stability is her number one asset.”

MASTER’S STREAK

The Master’s basketball team (14-7, 6-0) has won its past eight games and is undefeated in NAIA District 3 play.

Master’s will try to extend the streak Saturday night against Southern California College, which beat Master’s in the NAIA single-elimination postseason tournament last year. Southern California College (15-4 overall) is ranked 19th in NAIA Division I.

Biola (17-3, 6-1 in district play), ranked 16th, also looms large on Master’s horizon, and the game against the Eagles will take place Jan. 28. Master’s is unranked.

COACHING CIRCLES

Northridge football Coach Bob Burt was considered for the San Jose State coaching job that went Tuesday to Ron Turner, former Stanford offensive coordinator. Burt, who expressed interest in the position last Thursday, was not interviewed, however.

“I did have his name and I am familiar with his work,” San Jose State Athletic Director Tom Brennan said Tuesday. “He is someone we looked at. We looked at his credentials.”

The search to replace Terry Shea, the new Stanford offensive coordinator, lasted only five days because rumors of Shea’s departure began several weeks ago, according to Brennan.

Cal State Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy was a finalist for the position.

ROSAS QUITS

The Valley basketball team lost the services of backup center Joey Rosas when the freshman quit the team for personal reasons last week.

Rosas (6-8, 215 pounds), a 1989 graduate of Granada Hills High who returned to organized basketball this season after a two-year hiatus, was considered a promising prospect by Coach Jim Stephens.

“I thought he had great potential,” Stephens said of Rosas, who backed up sophomore starter Art Kirksey. “He just says he wasn’t enjoying it.”

In his best game this season, Rosas totaled 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 54-53 win over El Camino on Dec. 19.

Ron Twersky and staff writers Theresa Munoz, John Ortega and Wendy Witherspoon contributed to this notebook.