VALLEY ROUNDUP : Canyon High Lineman Goes With Arizona

Canyon High defensive lineman Chuck Osborne announced Monday that he intends to sign an NCAA letter of intent Wednesday to play football next season at Arizona.

Osborne, who also was being heavily recruited by USC, was the Golden League player of the year and an All-State selection.

He informed USC Coach Larry Smith of his decision by telephone Monday night. Osborne said he spent an hour on the phone with Smith, who, Osborne said, tried in vain persuade him to change his mind.

“It was getting pretty hectic,” Osborne said. “But I went with the gut feeling. Arizona’s the place for me. I’m happy with the decision and it’s final.”

In addition to USC and Arizona, Osborne (6-foot-3, 260 pounds) also took recruiting trips to Arizona State, Oregon and Hawaii. Osborne started the season at defensive end and was later moved to nose tackle.

Wednesday marks the first day that senior football players may sign NCAA national letters of intent.

Osborne said he was recruited to play at either outside linebacker, defensive end or nose tackle at Arizona.

Receiver Erik Holcomb of Westlake said Monday that he will recant an oral commitment he gave Washington last week and instead will sign with UCLA on Wednesday.

Holcomb (6-0, 165) said Thursday that he would attend Washington, but changed his mind Monday when he received paperwork showing that he been admitted to UCLA.

Troy Bregel and Ronnie Gipson of Kennedy have made verbal commitments to play football next season at NCAA schools.

Bregel, an offensive lineman, will play at Nevada, and Gipson, a cornerback, will play at Oregon. Five Kennedy players have landed football scholarships.

Bregel (6-3, 230) started every game each of the past three seasons on the offensive line and also took a recruiting trip to Hawaii. His brother, Jeff, is a former All-American lineman from USC who later played for the San Francisco 49ers. Bregel will join teammate Anthony Jones, a defensive back, at Nevada.

Gipson (6-2, 170) also took recruiting trips to Colorado State, Pacific, Oregon State and Utah.

Jason Evans of Royal, a two-time All-Southern Section Division II selection as an offensive lineman, has verbally committed to play next season at Pacific.

Evans (6-1, 255) became the third Royal player to accept a scholarship offer from an NCAA Division I school.

Royal offensive tackle Jason Wendland (Northwestern), quarterback Ryan Fien (UCLA) and Evans will each sign a letter of intent at Royal at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Vince Bruno, a linebacker from Westlake, has also verbally committed to play at Pacific.

Bruno (6-3, 220) was an All-Southern Section Division II selection last season.

Crespi defensive back Dereck Williams committed Saturday to play at Northern Arizona. Williams played at receiver and caught 36 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns.

He also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and intercepted five passes.

BASEBALL

L. A. City College took advantage of Ventura’s generosity on both the field and at the plate Monday to win a nonconference baseball game, 6-5, at L. A. City.

Ventura, playing in its season opener, committed six errors, which helped L. A. City (4-1) score six runs on eight hits.

Eleven Ventura batters struck out and the top three players in the batting order were a combined 0-for-11. David Frazier (2-for-4) was the lone Ventura player with more than one hit.

Ventura trailed 3-0 before scoring twice in the sixth and seventh innings. Trailing 5-4 in the ninth, Ventura tied the score on a double by Kasha Clemons and the shortstop’s throwing error on a ground ball by Tim Cornish.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth and the score tied 5-5, L. A. City scored on a single off reliever Karl Whitnall to pull out the victory. Whitnall (0-1) allowed three hits over 2 2/3 innings.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

First Lutheran 62, Viewpoint 54--Dan Mancinelli of First Lutheran and Paul Lively of Viewpoint each scored 29 points in a Heritage League game at Viewpoint.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Bell-Jeff 40, Flintridge Sacred Heart 36--Lori Leon scored a team-high 14 points to lead Bell-Jeff (19-3, 6-0) in a San Fernando League game at home.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Birmingham 5, Monroe 0--German Galeota scored twice and Jason Halpern, Oscar Bortillo and Jared Cohen added goals for Birmingham in a Valley Pac-8 Conference match at Birmingham.

Monroe is 2-2-2 in conference play.

San Fernando 4, Taft 0--Fabian Galvan and Raul Rivas each scored twice for host San Fernando (15-2-2, 8-0-1) in a Northwest Valley Conference match.

MEN’S GOLF

Cal Lutheran 429, Caltech 463--Troy Carpenter of Cal Lutheran shot a seven-over-par 77 to lead Cal Lutheran in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match at Annandale Country Club in Pasadena.