High School Athletics Los Angeles

Village Christian High football Coach Mike Plaisance thinks he's pulling a fast one on his rival Alpha League coaches. Nearly every coach in the league picks L.A. Baptist--a team that was 13-0 and won the Southern Section Division X title last season--as the team to beat. Guess who started the campaign? "They went undefeated last year and won it all. They have to be the favorite," said Plaisance, punctuating his statement with a hearty laugh. Divert the attention, that's his game plan.

The sad thing about the story regarding some curious grade changes for a basketball player at Dorsey High School is that, if the allegations are true, it won't surprise many people. The Times, while satisfying a journalistic mandate that it be a watchdog, among other things, is merely putting into print an old story that many in sports know and talk about all the time.

The first big weekend of the high school track and field season will burst out of the blocks today when Justin Fargas of Notre Dame, Miguel Fletcher of Alemany and Darrell Rideaux of Long Beach Poly meet in the boys' 100 meters in the Northridge-Alemany Relays at Cal State Northridge. They finished 1-2-3 in the state championships last year after an injury slowed favored Sultan McCullough of Pasadena Muir to ninth.

To the measured, subterranean beat of "Days of Our Livez," by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, the 1,800 students of Reseda High filed quietly into the school's football stadium midafternoon Friday for their melancholy lesson. It was sixth hour, and the pleasures of the weekend beckoned. But though a ruthless sun slicked their foreheads, they sat at near-perfect attention in the bleachers, listening to teachers and fellow students memorialize Eric Hoggatt. The subject was death.

Senior tailback Tyrone Crenshaw of Sylmar High became the first player in 13 years to win consecutive City Section 4-A Division player-of-the-year honors when he was selected co-MVP with quarterback Seka Edwards of Westchester. Crenshaw, who led all City ballcarriers in rushing with 1,785 yards, earned solo honors as a junior after leading the Spartans to the 4-A title. Edwards and Crenshaw led their teams to the semifinals this season.

Without a doubt, seniors Eddie Miller and Jerome Joseph make the Chatsworth High basketball team the one to beat among the region's City Section teams. But you won't hear that from Chatsworth Coach Fluke Fluker, who would like to hoodwink opponents. "I've got my work cut out for me here," said Fluker, who in May became Chatsworth's third coach in three years. With two of the most exciting, experienced players in the region, his work sounds downright playful.

When Cesar Casteneda made the 1994 City Times all-star baseball team as a junior, it looked as if 1995 could bring even greater accomplishments. So far, he's on the right track. Although he was described as "just an infant" by Lincoln High Coach Tom Hall, the 18-year-old Casteneda has been the man for the Tigers this season. "Cesar has such natural ability," Hall said. "There is so much raw talent to be brought out."

Sylmar High football. The giant of the Valley Pac-8 Conference. Unbeaten in 32 consecutive league games over the past four seasons. City Section 4-A semifinalists the past three. The 4-A champion in 1992. Outscored league opponents, 333-40, last season. Sylmar was placed on probation last year after Coach Jeff Engilman conducted an illegal practice on a holiday.

Here's a look at how teams shape up heading into the high school softball league races: City Section NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE El Camino Real High, defending City Section 4-A Division champion, has most of its starting lineup back and has a 4-1 record. The Conquistadores' only blemish is a 3-2 loss to Westlake. Freshman catcher Christina Enea is a quality replacement for Ramona Shelburne, the only starter El Camino Real lost from last year's team.