Morimune Named Football Coach at Oxnard

Wes Morimune, a varsity assistant the past two years at Oxnard High, was named as the Yellowjackets’ football coach Wednesday.

Morimune, 44, has never been a varsity head coach, but has helped with the football program at Oxnard during much of his 15 years as a biology teacher at the school.

Morimune replaces Neil Kazmierczak, who was asked to resign in January after leading Oxnard to a 5-5 record in his second season as coach. Kazmierczak was 8-12 in two seasons.

Basketball

The Master’s College is the top-seeded men’s team in the NAIA Far West Region Independents tournament, which will be held at Chapman University on Friday and Monday.

The defending champion Mustangs (27-4) will play fourth-seeded Patten (11-17) in a first-round game Friday at 8 p.m. Second-seeded Western New Mexico (18-8) will play third-seeded Bethany (16-15) at 6.

The winners will play in the championship game at 8 Monday night. The tournament champion will advance to the NAIA championships March 14-20 in Tulsa, Okla.

Westlake junior point guard Steve Aylsworth and Agoura senior center Ben Richardson have been named co-most valuable players in the Marmonte League.

Aylsworth averaged 17.1 points and 4.4 assists per game for the Warriors, who tied for the league title with Agoura and advanced to the Southern Section Division I-AA quarterfinals.

Richardson, who has signed with Boise State, averaged 17.1 points for the Chargers.

Village Christian senior David Gustafson has been named the Alpha League’s most valuable player for the second consecutive season.

Gustafson, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 24.8 points a game for the Crusaders, who were undefeated in league play this season.

Lindy James of Village Christian High has been named the Alpha League’s most valuable player.

James, a junior guard, averaged 20.6 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead the Crusaders to their third consecutive league championship.

Palmdale High center Kristi Rose has been selected the Golden League’s most valuable player.

Rose, a 6-foot-4 junior, averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Soccer

La Reina’s Samantha Conroy was named most valuable offensive player and teammate Katie Russell was selected most valuable defensive player in the Tri-Valley League.

Conroy, a junior midfielder with 15 goals and 19 assists, and Russell, a senior fullback, helped the Regents reach the second round of the Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

Goalie Jennifer LaFemina of La Reina said she plans to sign a letter of intent with UC Irvine next week.

LaFemina, the Tri-Valley League’s goalkeeper of the year, had 15 shutouts. She chose the Anteaters over UCLA, UC San Diego, Loyola Marymount, the University of San Diego, Occidental and Vassar.

Burroughs’ Jesus Diaz has been named player of the year in the Foothill League.

A senior striker, Diaz scored 22 goals and had four assists in 18 matches as the Indians won a fourth consecutive league championship and qualified for the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Midfielders Adam Cooper of Calabasas and Hugo Llamas of Santa Paula have been named co-most valuable players in the Frontier League.

Cooper had 17 goals and 23 assists, and Llamas had 12 goals and 18 assists as both schools qualified for the Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

Oak Park forward Tyler Blondi has been named co-player of the year in the Tri-Valley League.

Danny Nishiyama of Quartz Hill was named boys’ player of the year and Renee Armstrong of Burroughs Ridgecrest is girls’ player of the year in the Golden League.

Football

The Offense-Defense Instructional Football School will hold its first sessions from June 18-30 at UC Riverside and Occidental College. The 3 1/2-day high school camps will offer full contact work in compliance with Southern Section regulations.

Information: 800-554-1273 days; 805-259-0669 evenings.

Golf

Saticoy Country Club assured itself of a berth in the Southern California Golf Assn. playoffs with a 34-14 victory over rival Spanish Hills Country Club.

Saticoy (4-0-1), led by captain Gopal Kohli, advances to the single-elimination playoffs in March.

Baseball

The American Amateur Baseball Congress is forming traveling leagues in the Valley and Ventura County areas for players ages 10-16. Information: 805-496-2338.

Contributing: Dave Desmond, Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Michael Lazarus, John Ortega, Bryan Rodgers, Tris Wykes.