Early Opener for Westlake

Westlake High and Santa Maria St. Joseph have agreed to open the football season on Aug. 31 at St. Joseph, pending approval of the Southern Section.

The regular season is not scheduled to begin until Sept. 6, but both schools were having difficulty finding a 10th game and have sought approval from Commissioner Jim Staunton to begin their seasons a week early. Approval is expected.

Westlake had a nonleague game scheduled with Irvine Woodbridge for the seventh week, but Woodbridge changed its league bye date, leaving Westlake without an opponent.

St. Joseph signed to play Chaminade in week two, but Chaminade backed out when it discovered it had one year left on a two-year contract with El Camino Real.

If the Southern Section gives its approval, Westlake will start preseason practice a week ahead of other schools on Aug. 13. Westlake will not be permitted to work out in shoulder pads during week seven, when it has a bye.

St. Joseph, coached by Lance Fauria, former Crespi tight end, has nine returning nine starters on offense and seven on defense.

In another development, the Westlake-Thousand Oaks Marmonte League game scheduled for Sept. 27 at Westlake is expected to be televised by Fox Sports.

BASKETBALL

* Justin Muth, senior center at Cal Lutheran who was the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year, has been selected second team All-American by the National Assn. of Basketball Coaches.

Muth finished his career with 1,168 points, making him the 10th-leading scorer in Cal Lutheran history.

* Guards Erin Buescher of The Master’s and Rasheeda Clark of Pepperdine were among approximately 100 players participating in a two-day WNBA camp that began Friday at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

Buescher and Clark took part in drills and games before representatives of all 16 WNBA teams who are evaluating prospects for the April 20 draft.