VALLEY/VENTURA COUNTY ROUNDUP : Crespi Tackle Cullum to Attend Colorado

Senior tackle Kane Cullum of Crespi High, the Times’ All-Valley lineman of the year in 1994, has orally committed to Colorado.

Cullum (6 feet 5, 282 pounds), who started on both sides of the line of scrimmage last season, made recruiting visits to Colorado and UCLA on consecutive weekends before making his decision. Cullum said he probably will play offensive tackle in college.

Cullum is expected to sign a national letter of intent Feb. 1, the first day of the winter signing period.

“Those were the only two schools I was ever really interested in,” Cullum said. “Colorado seemed more like a family to me, much more like Crespi than UCLA. I liked the coaches and it’s a good team, a national championship contender.”

Cullum was a first-team All-Del Rey League selection and was ranked among the top 100 high school linemen by at least one publication.

Paraclete High offensive lineman Matt Phelan has made an oral commitment to UCLA, spurning offers from Cal and other schools. The 6-5, 315-pound senior nearly committed to the Bears last week.

“UCLA had more to offer, and I didn’t want to get that far away from home,” Phelan said. “I could play earlier at UCLA.”

Simi Valley High senior Monica Gerardo has orally committed to attend Notre Dame on a soccer scholarship and plans to sign a letter of intent Feb. 8.

“It’s great to be going to a team that was in the (NCAA) finals,” said Gerardo, who in November watched the Irish fall to North Carolina in the NCAA Championship game. “I like how sports are a big deal at Notre Dame.”

Gerardo, a striker with 78 goals in her high school career, was a first-team Southern Section selection in 1992-93 and a second-team pick in 1991-92 and 1993-94.

With 24 goals in 1994-95, Gerardo needs is one shy of tying Amy Hunter’s school record for goals in a season, set in 1991.

Ventura High receiver Ramsey Jay has made an oral commitment to USC, where he will play football and run track. He chose USC over Washington and Stanford.

Jay finished fourth in the 400 meters at the state track meet and won the Division II 400 in the Southern Section meet. As an All-Channel League wide receiver, Jay caught 26 passes for 373 yards.

Baseball

Mike Hankins, a former Simi Valley High baseball standout, said Monday he has agreed to a minor-league contract with the Oakland Athletics and he would be willing to serve as a major league replacement player if asked.

“I’ve thought about it a little bit,” Hankins said. “It’s an opportunity to play and the money’s not too bad.”

Hankins, 26, played parts of five seasons in the New York Yankee organization after being drafted out of UCLA in 1990. His pinnacle was a seven-game stint in triple A in 1992. He stalled at double-A Albany, N.Y., last year, so he asked for and was granted his release in midseason. He finished the summer playing for Winnipeg in the independent Northern League, where he hit .320.

Hankins will report to the A’s spring training camp Feb. 18 in Phoenix.

Bob Evans, junior varsity baseball coach at St. Francis High the past three seasons, has been promoted to varsity coach. He replaces Tim O’Neil, who resigned earlier this month to become a scout for the Minnesota Twins.

Antelope Valley College administrators have balked at a plan that would permit a team in a proposed independent minor league to use the school’s baseball field this spring.

According to school officials, the Antelope Valley Ravens of the proposed Golden State Baseball League will not be able to play at the college because of classes that use the field.

Boxing

Fernando Vargas of Oxnard and Lance Whitaker of Northridge qualified for the Pan American Games in March with victories in their respective weight classes Sunday in Portland, Ore.

Vargas, 17, defeated Arturo Ramos of San Antonio on a technical knockout in the third round, winning the 139-pound class. Whitaker, 21, beat Alvin Manley of Flint, Mich., on a 25-13 decision in the over-201-pound class.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

In games Monday:

Poly 65, North Hollywood 63--Polo Gonzalez made two free throws with three seconds remaining to break a 63-63 tie in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game.

Guard Arthur Lee of North Hollywood (10-7, 3-1) scored 24 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, including the tying basket with eight seconds remaining.

Jaime Cerna had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Poly (8-7, 2-2).

Canoga Park 89, Grant 86--The host Hunters scored 16 points in overtime of the Valley Pac-8 Conference game.

Grant’s Donald Patterson made a three-point play with eight seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score, but Carlos Harper of Canoga Park scored six of his 17 points in the extra period.

Ryan Sylva had 27 points and 16 rebounds for Canoga Park (5-10, 1-3). Donald Patterson scored 27 for Grant (11-6, 3-1).

Cleveland 85, El Camino Real 72--The host Cavaliers (5-12, 3-1), who lost 12 of their first 14 games, won their third consecutive Northwest Valley Conference game behind Junior Brignac’s 23 points. Jermel Jones had 26 points for El Camino Real (4-11, 0-4).

Birmingham 53, Kennedy 50--Kennedy missed two free throws while trailing by one with 10 seconds remaining in the Northwest Valley Conference.

Jamal Marks made a layup at the buzzer for Birmingham (9-7, 3-1). Jelani Janisse led Kennedy (11-5, 3-1) with 16 points.

Taft 78, San Fernando 37--Colin Jamerson had 22 points for the Toreadors (8-7, 2-2) in a Northwest Valley Conference game.

Ricky James added 11 points and six steals and Alton Arrington had 11 points and 10 rebounds. San Fernando (8-9, 0-4) was outscored, 32-9, in the fourth quarter.

Monroe 85, Sylmar 64--Shaka Stiner had 26 points for the Vikings (13-3, 4-0) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game. Bobby Reed added 11 points and 17 rebounds. Sylmar dropped to 2-13, 1-3.

Moorpark 68, Nordhoff 57--Mike McKenzie had 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Musketeers (15-6, 3-2) in a Frontier League game at Moorpark.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Master’s 98, St. Martins (WA) 72--Michael Penberthy had 28 points and eight assists in an NAIA game at St. Martins. James Mosley and Doug Leaman each had 14 points. The Mustangs (16-4) shot 62% from the field.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Sylmar 45, Grant 43--Kotasha Gowin scored on a 12-foot baseline jumper with two seconds left for Sylmar in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Grant.

Taft 61, Birmingham 46--Nyoki McKeith had 20 points, eight assists and five steals for Taft (11-2, 3-1) in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Birmingham. Vanessa Dunn and Sweden Monteagudo each added 16 points.

Nordhoff 64, Moorpark 52--Erin Barker scored 20 points and teammate Rayven McCloskey added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Nordhoff (12-6, 5-0) in a Frontier League game at Nordhoff.

Tracy Milburn scored 14 points for Moorpark (10-4, 3-2).