NOTEBOOK / SEAN WATERS : Uni’s Choice as Coach Is Gardena Assistant

Marshall Jones has been named the football coach at University High, according to assistant principal Hewitt Hornbeck.

Jones, a 32-year-old an assistant at Gardena, replaces Brad Ratcliff, who resigned in April after a six-year record of 17-41-1.

“He has a lot of experience at the varsity and lower levels and he is a complete teacher,” Hornbeck said.

Jones, who was an offensive lineman at Gardena, began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant with the Mohicans in 1980 and became the B coach in 1985.

Jones also coached the boys’ volleyball team from 1989-1991. A graduate of USC, Jones taught English and journalism at Gardena.

“Although the program has had some tough times, I think it is possible to turn it in a positive direction,” Jones said.

Jones said he will begin spring practice Monday.

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Early exit: Coastal Conference teams Fairfax, Hamilton, Westchester, University and Venice were all first-round losers in the City Section baseball playoffs.

The only area team to reach the semifinals was Northern Conference member Hollywood, which lost to Crenshaw, 4-3, Tuesday in a 3-A Division game.

Venice Coach Kirk Alexander said a lack of dominating pitching hurt Coastal Conference teams in postseason play.

“Our pitchers may have had big numbers inside the league, but they did not compare to the pitchers outside the league,” Alexander said.

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Add baseball: The 10th annual Westside All-Star Classic is scheduled for June 12 at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Jon Beckerman of University will coach area players from City teams, and Jose Lopez of Santa Monica will coach an area Southern Section team. Lopez retired after last season as the Viking coach.

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Track: The State championship meet will be staged on Friday and Saturday at Cerritos College. The first race begins at 5 p.m. Friday.

Katerina Kechris of Venice will be one of the featured runners in the girls’ 1,600 meters. Last Thursday, Kechris won the event in 5 minutes 9.62 seconds in the City finals at Birmingham High. Hamilton’s Genevieve Dubose, who finished second to Kechris, also qualified for State.

City champion University will also be led by Dorneisha Lewis, who qualified in the 200 and 400 and will run a leg on the 400 and 1,600 relay teams. Teammate Sheili Hardemion also will run in the 400 and on the relay teams.

Rori Kelly of Westchester qualified in the 100 hurdles after winning the City title in a wind-aided 14.98. Kamara Mayberry of St. Bernard qualified in the 800 after finishing third with a time of 2:13.16 at the Southern Section Masters Meet on Friday.

Area boys to watch include Peter Gilmore of Palisades in the 1,600, Jason Brownlee of Hamilton in the 300 hurdles, and David Shumsky of Palisades and Mel Moultry of Beverly Hills in the long jump.