Crespi’s Thomas to Take Servite Coaching Position

Troy Thomas, who took over a football program at Encino Crespi that had gone 1-19 the previous two years and turned it into a Southern Section Division X champion four years later, has been named the coach at Anaheim Servite.

It was a big decision for Thomas to leave his alma mater, where he was also the athletic director. Under Thomas, Crespi was 33-14 in his four years as coach, capped by a 32-14 victory over North Torrance in last year’s Division X final.

Thomas, 36, also once served as an assistant coach at Hawaii and graduate assistant at Fresno State.

“I really felt like it’s a great opportunity,” Thomas said Tuesday of the Servite position that will allow him to return to Division I, where he helped Crespi win the Big Five Conference title as a defensive back in 1986.

Thomas’ hiring should help soothe any bitter feelings among Servite players and alumni, many of whom were upset after the Friars lost out on their first choice, Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes, who accepted the job Feb. 22, only to change his mind several hours later.

Thomas never applied for the position until he learned of Barnes’ decision. He has sold his home in Tarzana. One of his strengths is teaching good character to his players, a key requirement for the Servite coach.

Eric Sondheimer

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Basketball

The 2006 McDonald’s All-American high school games will be played in San Diego, the first time the event has been held in California since 1984.

Local organizers are waiting for ESPN to set a date, although the game is usually held the Wednesday night preceding the NCAA Final Four. This year’s McDonald’s All-American games -- a girls’ game was added in 2002 -- will be played March 30 at Notre Dame. Westchester’s Amir Johnson and Norco’s Erika Arriaran have been selected to participate.

The last McDonald’s All-American game to be played in California was at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.

Baseball

Oxnard, the favorite to win the Pacific View League, has been strengthened by the addition of junior outfielder Devin Shepherd, who enrolled last week after starting two years at Westlake Village Oaks Christian.

Soccer

Alexa Orand, a junior at Orange El Modena who’s considered one of the top female players in the nation, has committed to Santa Clara.