Pederson, Castonguay Are Marmonte MVPs

The Marmonte League has named Tim Pederson of Royal High as offensive most valuable player and Billy Castonguay of Simi Valley as defensive most valuable player in boys’ soccer.

Pederson, a senior midfielder, had 14 goals and 14 assists as the Highlanders won the Southern Section Division I title. Castonguay, a junior stopper, recovered from a broken arm in midseason to help the Pioneers reach the Division I semifinals.

Mike Cassidy of Agoura was named best goalkeeper and Kevin Corley of Royal was selected coach of the year.

Baseball

Academic ineligibility has claimed four players on the Canoga Park baseball team. Jeremiah Johnson (.440), Steve Ramos (.400), Kevin Jepson (.375) and Raymond Essapuor (.286) were among the team’s top batters.

“They don’t care about baseball; they don’t care about school,” Coach Jim Smith said of athletes at Canoga Park who don’t maintain a 2.0 grade-point average. “You wonder what they do care about.”

Former El Camino Real standout Randy Wolf and former Crespi catcher Casey Snow have been invited to USA baseball’s spring camp. Wolf, now a freshman pitcher at Pepperdine and Snow, a sophomore at Long Beach State, each participated in USA baseball’s fall camp.

Football

Canyon High’s secondary has been bolstered by the transfer of safety Eddie Pugh from St. Augustine High in New Orleans.

St. Augustine was the Louisiana state champion two years ago. Pugh, 5 feet 10, 188 pounds and a three-year varsity player, will likely start at free safety for the Cowboys as a senior this fall.

Three basketball players at Canyon--Donald Jacobs, Louis Moore and Mark Quest--will also try out for football, each vying for a starting spot at wide receiver.

* Contributing: Dana Haddad, Michael Lazarus, Tris Wykes.