Common Thread

It’s not a World Wrestling Federation matchup, but the Southern Section Division I-A semifinal basketball game between Simi Valley and Mater Dei highs on Tuesday at Huntington Beach Ocean View High still deserves the introduction, “Let’s get ready to rumble!”

These are two storied programs that provoke bitter debate among fans and coaches.

The Monarchs from Santa Ana are constantly bashed because of their overwhelming basketball success. The Catholic school with the relatively inexpensive $4,925-per-year tuition has won 12 section titles in Gary McKnight’s 17 years as coach.

Players routinely transfer to Mater Dei, and coaches despise it. The latest, 6-foot-10 sophomore Jamal Sampson, checked in this season from Westchester. Harrison Schaen, a 6-8 eighth-grader, has moved from Woodland Hills to Orange County so he can play for the Monarchs next season.

Simi Valley caused an uproar in Ventura County two years ago when center Rafael Berumen moved into the area from Pomona and guard Branduinn Fullove checked into a magnet program so he could play for the Pioneers. There are coaches who still refuse to vote for Simi Valley players for all-league and all-county teams because they believe the players don’t belong at Simi Valley.

But in this era of open enrollment, where it doesn’t matter where you live, Simi Valley is the ultimate neighborhood team. Every starter lives in Simi Valley. Just don’t ask how they got there.

These Simi Valley players are among the most pleasant, most dedicated teenagers you’d ever want to meet. It’s about time everybody moved on and accepted the new reality that families can choose any school they want, for any reason, including sports.

Not since 1987, when more than 3,000 packed Cal State Northridge to see top-ranked Simi Valley defeat No. 2 Cleveland, has there been a more attractive high school basketball game for region fans than Simi Valley-Mater Dei.

Mater Dei (29-3) has five players 6-7 or taller. They have one of the best freshmen in Orange County, 6-4 Mike Strawberry, the nephew of Darryl Strawberry. They remain a strong favorite to meet Glendora in the I-A final Saturday at the Arrowhead Pond.

Simi Valley (28-2) has the 6-9 Berumen, everybody’s choice for Ventura County player of the year. Juniors Fullove and 6-6 Brett Michel and sophomore point guard Shaun Michel have had excellent seasons.

But the player who can help Simi Valley pull off an upset is improving 6-9 sophomore Dustin Villepigue. (Attention Maccabi Games organizers: Villepigue might be the most-promising Jewish center this side of Israel.)

At this time last season, Villepigue, 15, was a member of the Pioneers’ freshman-sophomore team. He has grown five inches in a year and is closing in on 6-9 Scott Borchart of Chaminade as the region’s No. 1 college prospect for 2001. On Friday night, Villepigue scored 11 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the Pioneers’ 70-58 quarterfinal victory over Ventura.

“Every game that rolls around, I’m very excited,” Villepigue said.

This summer, Villepigue plans to spend hours in the weight room learning from Fullove, a gym rat and devoted weight-lifter. A little more experience, combined with increased strength, and Villepigue will be an exceptional replacement for Berumen.

“I’m just working at it one day at a time, trying to get a little better every day,” he said. “I’ll have to fill the role of Rafael next [season].”

The Pioneers need Villepigue to come through on Tuesday. If he can rebound, hustle, play defense and score when Berumen is double-teamed, the Pioneers can win.

Whatever happens, Mater Dei and Simi Valley are loaded with top young players, and a rematch is inevitable for the 1999-2000 season.

Warm temperatures, a cloudless sky, no wind--it was perfect baseball weather on Saturday as several alumni games were held throughout the Valley.

None probably brought out more top players than at Notre Dame, where minor leaguer Ryan Stromsborg of the Toronto Blue Jays won the alumni home-run hitting contest. He had plenty of competition from such former Knight standouts as Jorge Piedra, Glen Carson, Chris Garza, Kevin Milligan and Bob Mandeville.

“I saw a lot of blisters this morning,” Stromsborg said, referring to all the old-timers who took batting practice the night before.

“It’s a blast,” Notre Dame Coach Tom Dill said. “It’s good to have [the current players] see some of the guys who used to play here and how they’ve grown up.”

A couple of baseballs autographed by all-time hit leader Pete Rose were auctioned off. Rose could become a fixture at Notre Dame games. His son, Tyler, an eighth-grader, has applied to attend Notre Dame this fall.

Alumni games can be highly competitive. But most of all, alumni games offer a chance to reflect on the past, thank people for their continual support and provide inspiration for the varsity players to become as skillful as their predecessors.

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.