Barton, Young Share Player of Year

Huntington Beach Marina third baseman Daric Barton, who led the Vikings to the Southern Section Division I title, and Camarillo outfielder Delmon Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur baseball draft, were selected the Division I co-players of the year.

Paul Renfrow was selected Division I coach of the year after guiding Marina to four extra-inning playoff victories, including a 1-0 victory over Moreno Valley Valley View in the Division I championship.

Three players shared player of the year honors in Division II: first baseman Matt Aidem of Valencia, shortstop Jeff Flaig of Placentia El Dorado and pitcher Bret Montgomery of Thousand Oaks.

Rod Stillwell was selected Division II coach of the year after leading Thousand Oaks to its first title in the school’s 41-year existence.

Other players of the year included Trevor Plouffe of Encino Crespi in Division III, Ian Stewart of Westminster La Quinta in Division IV, Chase Twedell and Matt Anema of Cerritos Valley Christian in Division V and Josh Reed of Redlands Calvary Chapel in Division VI.

-- Mike Bresnahan

The Southern Section has selected Brittany Crouch, who pitched Irvine Woodbridge to the Division I softball title, the player of the year for the division.

Pitchers Taryne Mowatt of Corona Santiago and Daniela Urincho of champion Norco shared the honor in Division II.

Other players of the year were: shortstop Jodie Legaspi of champion Garden Grove Pacifica in Division III, pitcher Ashlee Freeman of champion Westlake Village Oaks Christian in Division IV, pitchers Emily Nelson of runner-up Pasadena Poly and Lauren Nydam of champion Sun Valley Village Christian in Division V and pitcher Karin Erickson of champion Riverside Christian in Division VI.

-- Dan Loumena

Everado Silva, who guided Los Angeles Belmont to six City Section boys’ cross-country titles during his seven years as the Sentinels’ head coach, has stepped down from that position to take over the boys’ and girls’ cross-country program at Tujunga Verdugo Hills.

Silva, a 1984 Belmont graduate, also guided the Sentinels’ girls’ team to a City title in 2000. He said it was hard to leave his alma mater, but pointed out that he lives a half mile from Verdugo Hills.

“I’m kind of sorry to leave Belmont because the [boys’] team is going to have a lot of good runners returning next season,” Silva said. “But the thought of being able to walk to work is very appealing.”

Silva, 37, will take over a Verdugo Hills program that hasn’t produced any high-quality cross-country teams for more than 30 years.

-- John Ortega

Palm Desert’s Tim Kabeary, The Times’ 2002 boys’ golf coach of the year, is retiring after 16 years to spend more time with his family.

Kabeary has built the Aztecs into one of the premier golf teams in the state. During his tenure, Palm Desert won 14 Desert Valley League titles, 14 Southern Section Divisional championships, four section titles and three CIF-SCGA tournaments.

Jack Stewart, coach of the Palm Desert girls’ team, will take over the boys’ team.

-- Peter Yoon

Nick Young, an All-City basketball player at Reseda Cleveland who has been seeking a fifth year of high school eligibility, had his appeal denied by a City Section appeals panel. His final appeal will be to the CIF state office.

-- Eric Sondheimer