Board’s Vote Goes Against Moorpark

The Ventura County Board of Education declined to endorse Moorpark High’s efforts to join the Marmonte League rather than the Channel League beginning in the 1998-99 school year.

The board voted, 3-1, Monday night not to take a position on the issue, which was brought to the board’s attention by Moorpark Unified School District trustee Greg Barker and Marty Bates, the only county trustee voting in Moorpark’s favor.

Representatives from most Marmonte and Channel League schools attended the meeting and spoke in favor of the Southern Section’s plan to put Moorpark in a revamped Channel League along with Buena, Ventura and three Santa Barbara-area schools.

Although Moorpark Principal John McIntosh believes the school is better suited for the Marmonte League because travel distances would be shorter, he saw no need for Barker and Bates to bring it to the county’s attention.

“Out of 13 schools in the county involved in this releaguing, 12 are against [Moorpark joining the Marmonte League],” said Charles Weis, county superintendent. “If I had to get involved, I would side with the majority. But I’m not getting involved. I’m taking no position.”

Had the board supported Moorpark’s request, the gesture would have been largely symbolic because the county board has no input on Southern Section decisions.

Moorpark’s appeal of the Southern Section releaguing plan will be heard by the CIF Executive Council on Oct. 21.

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Hitting the road: Michelle Greco of Crescenta Valley High, The Times’ 1996-97 girls’ basketball player of the year, will take the first of her five recruiting trips on Oct. 11 when she visits UC Santa Barbara.

Greco, the state’s freshman, sophomore and junior player of the year the past three seasons, also has an Oct. 31 trip scheduled to Colorado.

The 5-foot-9 senior guard also is considering USC, Pepperdine, Oregon State and UCLA.

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On the mend: Former Poly High baseball coach Jerry Cord is on the comeback trail after undergoing a bone marrow transplant operation.

Cord, who has been battling Hodgkin’s disease, could be released from Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles as early as next week, his wife, Karen, said.

Cord retired from coaching after the 1992 season. He has been a dean at the Sun Valley campus.

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Good as gold: Adam Kennedy, a first-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Cal State Northridge, is among nine finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top player in college baseball.

The award presentation will be the featured event at USA Baseball’s awards program Nov. 11 in New York.

Kennedy, a shortstop, batted .482 with 26 home runs and 99 runs batted in last season at Northridge. He led the nation in hits for the second consecutive year with 134.

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Gator aid: Lia Cummins, a midfielder for Chaminade’s girls’ soccer team, has committed to Florida.

Cummins was selected to The Times’ all-region team last season and was an All-Southern Section Division III pick. Chaminade won the division last season.

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Oldies but goodies: John Bennett of West Hills defeated Gene Powell of Northridge, 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 6-4, to win the men’s 65 singles division Sunday in the Southern California Senior Tennis Championships at Westlake Tennis and Swim Club.

In the men’s 60 singles division, Jim Ouwendijk of Somis defeated Alfred Ruess of Los Angeles, 6-1, 7-5.

In men’s 55 singles play, Ed Rosa of Calabasas defeated Mel Sarowitz of Westlake Village, 7-5, 6-3, and downed Brad Traister of Los Angeles, 6-2, 6-2, to win a round-robin competition.

Jurgen Janson of Westlake Village defeated Tom Wire, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, to win the men’s 50 singles division.

Third-seeded Dan Burrows of Camarillo defeated Brad Baker, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, in the men’s 45 singles.

In doubles, Ed Charles and Sam Pitts of Woodland Hills won two matches in round-round competition in the men’s 35 division.

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Back in the pack: Keith Spangler of Chatsworth finished fifth and Bob Lyon of Agua Dulce was eighth in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Altamont 150 on Saturday at Altamont Raceway Park.

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Double break: Senior Kevin Doty, a two-way starter for the Chatsworth High football team, will miss the rest of the season after breaking his collarbone against Poly last week, Chancellor Coach Myron Gibford said Tuesday.

Doty, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound starting defensive end and tight end, suffered the same injury during a passing league game and missed most of the summer.