Matter, Ebell Top All-Section Lists

Quarterback Kyle Matter of Hart High was chosen the Division III offensive player of the year in football, marking the 16th consecutive year a Hart quarterback was selected to the All-Southern Section team.

End Evan Allen of Hart was selected defensive player of the year.

Running back Tyler Ebell of Ventura and defensive back Ryan Foltz of Westlake were chosen offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively, for Division IV.

In Division XI, running back Lorenzo Booker of St. Bonaventure was the offensive player of the year and teammate Mike Bonelli, a linebacker, was the defensive player of the year.

In Division XII, running backs Gary Sonkur of Montclair Prep and Curtis Brown of Paraclete shared offensive player of the year honors and defensive back Michael Washington of Paraclete was chosen defensive player of the year.

Making the All-Southern Section super team, comprised of players from all 12 divisions, were first-team picks Matter, Ebell, Booker, Allen, Foltz, Washington, center Bill Griffin of Ventura and quarterback/defensive back Demetre Booker of Antelope Valley.

* David Banuelos, coach at Pierce College the last two seasons, has been hired as an assistant at Valley.

Under Banuelos, Pierce finished 3-7 last season and 1-9 in 1999.

BASKETBALL

* Center Brian Heinle of Northridge has been selected the Big Sky Conference men’s player of the week.

The 6-foot-9 senior helped the Matadors sweep their first pair of games in Montana since joining the conference. Heinle had 18 points and 17 rebounds against Montana State in a 72-65 victory on Thursday and had 16 points and 11 rebounds against Montana in a 74-65 victory on Saturday. Northridge (13-8, 6-2) moved into a first-place tie with Weber State.

BASEBALL

* Pitcher Matt Harrington of Palmdale is expected today to send a counteroffer to the Colorado Rockies.

Harrington, taken with the No. 7 pick in the amateur draft last June, was offered $4 million over seven years last week. The amount was a decrease from the Rockies’ original offer of a $4 million signing bonus paid over two years or a $5.3 million major-league deal over seven years.

Harrington, represented by Tommy Tanzer, is expected to request $4 million over four years.

* Freshman Clint Kofmehl from Crespi High made his debut Nevada over the weekend, allowing one hit and one run in four innings. He struck out three and had no walks.

* Robert Herrick of Valencia High has accepted an appointment to Navy, where he will play baseball.