It Seems Watson’s Fight Has Just Begun

Around the horn. . . .

Let the legal slugfest begin.

Virgil Watson has fired his first official salvo after being told he won’t be rehired next school year to teach or coach at Ventura College.

Actually, the American Federation of Teachers pulled the trigger on Watson’s behalf.

The union, which represents community college teachers, Tuesday filed a grievance with the Ventura Community College District, claiming that the district violated Watson’s review and evaluation process.

Watson, men’s basketball coach and a physical education instructor at Ventura the past two years, got word at a district meeting March 11 that he would be fired at the end of this school year.

In short, the district justified the decision by saying Watson is a poor teacher.

Watson said he was never told in his two years at the school, first on an interim basis and then as a full-time instructor, that his performance didn’t make the grade.

This will get interesting. Stay tuned. . . .

You’ve got to figure Cal State Northridge’s two losses earlier this week at the Hawaii baseball tournament would have been harder to take if not for the surroundings.

But the Matadors probably felt like they were swallowed by the surf at Waikiki in the 12-11 loss to Washington on Monday in Honolulu, when they surrendered seven runs in the seventh inning.

Coach Mike Batesole now knows why they make mai tais in that place. . . .

Speaking of nice spots to play ball, former Cal Lutheran baseball Coach Rich Hill brings his San Francisco team to Malibu today for a four-game West Coast Conference series against first-place Pepperdine (16-15, 4-0 in WCC play).

San Francisco (14-15, 2-2) features right-handed pitchers Ray Rivera (Mission College), Jason Warren (Pierce) and left-hander Rich Igou (Notre Dame High).

The teams play a doubleheader Friday at noon and play Saturday at 1. . . .

A few years ago, Mike White, football coach at Edison High in Huntington Beach, told me Brandon Jessie had more of a future in the NFL than the NBA. White still might be proven right.

Jessie, former basketball standout at Ventura College and Utah, last week signed with the New York Giants and will try to make the team as a tight end.

Considering Jessie did not play college football, the interest by the Giants speaks volumes about his athletic ability.

Or the team’s desperation.

The Giants must be hoping that Jessie, 6 feet 6 and 255 pounds, inherited the football skills of his father, Ron, a former All-Pro who played for the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. . . .

Ventura forward Adria Sneed is being recruited heavily by Cal State Northridge and Pepperdine. Sneed, a 6-foot sophomore, averaged 15.5 points during the regular season and helped the Pirates to their second consecutive state championship on March 15.

Sneed’s teammate, point guard Kara Newman, could be headed for Northern Arizona. Newman was the state co-player of the year. . . .

Junior college pitching is always at a premium but this season 11 Western State Conference hurlers with 20 or more innings pitched are sporting earned-run averages under 4.00. . . .

Pending approval by the California Community College Commission on Athletics, Antelope Valley College will play host to a football bowl game in December, with proceeds going to the Lancaster and Palmdale educational foundations.