‘Devastated’ Caine Returns to Practice

Josh Caine, a College of the Canyons football player involved in a fatal traffic accident Monday, has returned to practice, Coach Chuck Lyon said.

Caine, 20, a freshman from Hart High and third-string tight end at Canyons, was driving home from practice when he lost control of his truck and struck and killed a 9-year-old female jogger. Authorities said Caine was adjusting ice packs on an injured leg when his truck jumped the curb. Lyon said Caine suffers from shin splints.

“We’ve had pastors from all kinds of churches call to offer support to him,” Lyon said. “I had him in to talk to him and gave him their names. I told him, ‘We still love you and we want you here.’ He’s devastated.”

Investigation of the accident is continuing. Caine, who has not been arrested, has submitted a blood sample, but drugs or alcohol are not suspected, a sheriff’s deputy spokesman said.

“It will be a week to 10 days before the tests are back,” Deputy Mark Slater said.

FOOTBALL

Fox Sports West 2 has finalized its 1998 high school football television schedule for the regular season. Three games involve local teams: Oct. 15, Newbury Park at Westlake; Oct. 29, Valencia vs. Hart at College of the Canyons and Nov. 5, El Camino Real vs. Taft at Birmingham.

The Mater Dei-Concorde De La Salle game will be televised delayed on Sept. 27.

SOFTBALL

Experienced players are being sought for the Strike Force 18-and-under fast-pitch softball team.

Information: (626) 446-9385.

SOCCER

Tealena Baltad had eight saves for Canyons, a first-year program, in a 2-0 loss to Sequoias at Visalia on Thursday in a season-opening nonconference game.

VOLLEYBALL

Jeff Stork, a former three-time All-American at Pepperdine and a three-time U.S. Olympic team member, has been hired as a men’s volleyball assistant to Wave Coach Marv Dunphy.

Stork played setter on the 1988, ’92 and ’96 Olympic teams, winning a gold medal in 1988 in Seoul, Korea.