Thompson Decides to Retire

Carl Thompson announced he will retire as football coach and athletic director at Camarillo High at the end of the school year.

Thompson has been at Camarillo as a teacher, coach and administrator for 33 years, the last 18 as varsity football coach. He had a 109-91-2 record, including Southern Section titles in 1984 and 1996. He led the Scorpions to five league titles, including a share of the Pacific View championship last season.

One of Thompson’s final duties as athletic director will be to hire a replacement as football coach. On-campus candidates include former Scorpion quarterback and current baseball coach Scott Cline, longtime assistant Charlie Festerling and junior varsity coach Kernon Machado.

The Ventura County Football Coaches Assn. is sponsoring a college recruiting seminar for athletes in grades eight through 11 and their parents on Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Rio Mesa High gym.

Scheduled speakers include Coach Jeff Kearin of Cal State Northridge, Coach Scott Squires of Cal Lutheran and UCLA assistant Ron Caragher. Cost is $1.

Baseball

Chaminade High (22-3) opens the Southern Section Division IV playoffs tonight at 7 against Bosco Tech at Birmingham High.

The Mission League champion Eagles are expected to start left-hander Bobby Paschal (10-0).

Bosco Tech is led by shortstop Michael Garciaparra, brother of Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra.

With the City Section playoffs a week away, Granada Hills (19-9) is facing uncertainty after the disclosure that Coach Steve Thompson might not return next season.

Assistant Principal Robert Garcia declined comment regarding Thompson’s future.

Thompson said a meeting has been scheduled for after the season.

“I can’t tell you whether I’ll be here or not,” he said.

Players were informed Tuesday of Thompson’s status so they could take advantage of open enrollment while it is available this month.

Earlier this season, Granada Hills players were suspended for a locker room shower incident and for an incident involving alcohol in Las Vegas.

Granada Hills could be one of the top five seeded teams in the City Championship division. The Highlanders last won a City title in 1984.

Steve Marden, who guided San Fernando to the City title in 1991, said he is interested in the vacant El Camino Real job. Marden, 55, was regarded as one of the top City Section coaches during his tenure from 1975-92.

Chatsworth pitcher Justin Cassel underwent an appendectomy Wednesday and is not expected to return to the team for at least a week.

Basketball

A high school all-star game featuring players from the Mission and Del Rey leagues will be held Saturday at 5 p.m. at Montebello Cantwell High.

Participants include Charlie Shiebler and Paul Angel from Crespi, Jeff Hufford and Jordan O’Gilvie from Chaminade, Brett Mitchell from St. Francis, Gabe Zamora and Evan Cline from Alemany, and Brian Coffey from Harvard-Westlake. Dick Dornan of Crespi will coach the Mission team.

Track and Field

Daniel Cobian and Dawn Dvorak of Antelope Valley College have signed letters of intent with Cal State Fullerton and Southern Utah, respectively.

Cobian finished third in the men’s 10,000 meters in the Southern California championships May 5 and won the Foothill Conference cross-country title last year.

Dvorak placed fifth in the women’s pole vault in the state championships last year and has a career best of 11-6.