Football Extension Given to 14-Year-Olds

The state CIF Federated Council on Friday granted the Southern Section a three-year trial extension to continue allowing 14-year-olds to play varsity football.

But the Federated Council failed to act on an appeal by the City Section to allow 14-year-olds to play this fall.

State rules ban anyone under 15 from playing varsity football. The Southern Section has been using a waiver to conduct research with 14-year-olds playing at the varsity level.

* With the Southern Section allowing schools to hold football scrimmages before season openers this fall, teams are quickly setting up games. Notre Dame will play at Loyola and Hart will play at Moorpark in intriguing scrimmage matchups.

* Several former area high school players are listed high on the depth chart for Washington after spring practice. Cornerback Jermaine Smith (Royal), linebacker Derrell Daniels (Sylmar) and tackle Elliot Silvers (Agoura) are listed as starters and quarterback J.K. Scott (Burroughs) and receiver Dajuan Hawkins (Newbury Park) are backups.

BASEBALL

* Birmingham High graduate Steve Brown, a senior pitcher and utility player who ended his career with a no-hitter against Cal State Stanislaus, was selected All-California Collegiate Athletic Conference. Brown had a 3-8 record with a 3.40 earned-run average this season.

Camarillo High graduate Jay Caligiuri, a freshman third baseman who hit .309 in 52 games, was honorable mention. He had three home runs and 34 runs batted in.

VOLLEYBALL

* Cal State Northridge has hired former Alemany High girls’ coach Susie Terrusa as an assistant for the women’s team, Coach Lian Lu said.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work with Coach Lu,” said Terrusa, who won a national championship in 1984 playing for UCLA. “The Matadors have the potential for a very successful season this year, and I’m glad I have the chance to be a part of it.”

Terrusa has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA and earned a teaching credential from Northridge. She has coached and taught in the region since 1988.

BASKETBALL

* Girls Got Game Inc. will hold its first girls’ basketball tournament for players ages 7-18 on May 15-16 in Van Nuys. Opening ceremonies will be at 8:30 a.m. at Van Nuys High next Saturday, with tournament play taking place at Madison Middle School.

The tournament features five divisions of competition--third- and fourth-graders, fifth- and sixth-graders, middle school, junior varsity and varsity.

GOLF

* The Valley Youth Conference is holding its annual golf tournament May 17 at Porter Valley Country Club. Jeff Fisher, coach of the Tennessee Titans and a Taft High graduate, is the tournament host. Cost is $180. Information: (818) 999-5197.

HONORS

* Annetta Wells, Tara Glaister and Eckhard Walter have been selected April athletes of the month for Cal State Northridge.

Wells, a sophomore, set the Big Sky Conference record for the 200 meters at 23.52 during the California-Nevada track and field championships. Glaister, a sophomore, earned six pitching victories for the Matador softball team, including a 5-3 victory over No. 2 Arizona.

Walter, a freshman outside hitter, had 41 kills in a season-ending men’s volleyball victory over UC Santa Barbara and was in the top five nationally in kills per game at 6.12.

* Former Notre Dame High guard Tommy Zapata, who started last season at point guard for Nevada, is one of 300 student-athletes selected to participate in the third annual NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference May 31-June 4 at Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Zapata will be a senior next season.