Riccio to Coach at Agoura

Joe Riccio, athletic director at Santa Paula High for the last 10 years, has been hired as boys’ basketball coach at Agoura.

Riccio, 46, replaces Bill Sanchez, who resigned in March, saying he was frustrated with a lack of administrative support for the program.

Riccio hasn’t coached in high school since guiding the Santa Paula girls’ team to an 86-58 record from 1989-95, but Agoura Assistant Principal John Reece wasn’t concerned about that.

“We have faith in him,” Reece said. “He was continually involved in athletics at Santa Paula and we think that will help here.”

Agoura was 40-60 during Sanchez’s four years as coach. The Chargers qualified for the playoffs the first three years.

SOFTBALL

* West Valley League champion El Camino Real will be seeded No. 1 and host Venice when the City Championship playoffs begin Tuesday.

Also hosting first-round games will be San Fernando against Banning, Kennedy against Cleveland and Sylmar against South Gate. Granada Hills will travel to San Pedro, Chatsworth will be at Westchester and Verdugo Hills opens at Eagle Rock.

In City Invitational play, North Hollywood is at Monroe, Canoga Park is at Garfield, Franklin is at Van Nuys and Marshall is at Poly.

SOCCER

* Thousand Oaks defender Crystal Topham, team captain and a four-year starter, has committed to Ohio Wesleyan.

Topham, who was recognized by the Conejo Valley Unified School District for academic excellence, will join an NCAA Division III powerhouse that features sophomore Erin Croasmun of St. Bonaventure and freshman Jennifer Preston of Newbury Park.