Sports

Sierra Canyon Looks for More Football Success

Spring drills begin April 25, and Sierra Canyon figures to be loaded once again.

After reaching the section championship game in its first year of 11-man football last season, Sierra Canyon High is getting ready for spring practice later this month, and it should be another good year because most of the key starters are back, including receiver/defensive back Julian Brooks, who has been offered a Washington State scholarship.

“It’s really exciting for him to get a Pac-10 offer,” coach Jon Ellinghouse said. “Julian brooks is truly deserving of it. We’re excited to have that kind of caliber player on the team this year.”

Only one Sierra Canyon player, graduating senior Shane Harrison, has ever accepted a football scholarship, as the receiver is going to Sacramento State.

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Tyler Stewart, a 6-foot-4 quarterback who passed for2,861 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior, also is expect to receiver major offers. There are a lot of other top players coming back, including tight end/defensive end Jesse Howell,  running backs Danny Jordan and Xavier Menifield and lineman Andrew Terry.

“We return all five starting linemen,” Ellinghouse said. “We’re really looking forward to getting started again.”

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Sierra Canyon's baseball team ready to resume competition

Because of rainy weather combined with spring break, it will 24 days between games for Sierra Canyon’s baseball team by the time competition  resumes Tuesday against visiting Windward of L.A. at Chatsworth High. First pitch is 3:30 p.m.

“Windward will be one of our toughest opponents, along with Brentwood,” coach Bobby Bell said. “We’ve got a good group of sophomores, especially Brian Tucker. He really held his own during the summer on the Cardinals’ scout team with teammates from Moorpark, Chaminade, all these big schools. He tried out and he made it, and he was only a freshman out there.”

Sierra Canyon is 2-2-2.

“Two ties? That’s crazy,” Bell said.

In other Sierra Canyon baseball news, Matt Hirsh has joined the staff as an assistant. Hirsh played at St. Francis and Cal Lutheran before being drafted by the Houston Astros in 2005.

“He toiled in the minor leagues for a while, and now he has decided to come join us,” Bell said.

Chatsworth's baseball team heats up

It’s a big week for Chatsworth’s baseball team. The Chancellors opened West Valley League competition Wednesday with a 9-1 at Cleveland in Reseda, and the teams meet again Friday at 3 p.m.

Aaron Brown, who had three hits against Cleveland and is 7 for 13 over the past three games, is scheduled to pitch Friday, and he is one of the San Fernando Valley’s top left-handers.

“I think we’re doing OK. We executed really well last game, and we hit the ball all over the field,” Brown said. “Winning the first one, that kind of takes the pressure off.”

Also, Steven Karkenny, an All-City outfielder/pitcher, has committed to The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, an NAIA program.

“I’m very excited,” Karkenny said. “They’re an excellent team, they’re very high in education, and there is an outsanding spiritual aspect as well.”

Karkenny is 2-1, and he's batting .300. As a junior, he batted .440 with two home runs, and he was 5-1 with six saves and a 1.62 ERA. H also led the VIBL in home runs this past summer.


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