Wsc

Cuneyt Karacuha of Valley College and Jeff Dyrek of Glendale have been honored as the Western State Conference's co-offensive and defensive player of the week, respectively. Karacuha, a sophomore from Van Nuys High, kicked two extra points and two fields goals--including a game-winning 47-yarder with 26 seconds left--in Valley's 20-17 win over Glendale on Saturday. Dyrek, a sophomore linebacker from St. Francis High, had a school-record four interceptions and five tackles for Glendale.

Just when you thought it was safe to come out and play, the Western State Conference divisional races are heating up. Today's main attraction comes courtesy of Oxnard and Glendale colleges. Oxnard leads the Northern Division with a 9-2 record, one game ahead of second-place Cuesta. The Condors (15-8) took two from Cuesta last week. Glendale is on top in the Southern Division at 9-2, two games ahead of Pierce and Citrus.

For once it wasn't just double talk. After discarding their two-division format this season in favor of a single division with a postseason conference tournament, Western State Conference baseball coaches unanimously predicted an unprecedented race for the championship and berths in the state tournament. And with one week left in the regular season, it looks as if they were correct. Seven of the conference's 11 teams--including College of the Canyons, Valley, Moorpark, Pierce and Glendale--are still in contention for a shot at postseason play.

Don't call Marilyn Dubon a ball hog. Don't assume she's selfish or unwilling to share with teammates. If she shoots the basketball frequently for the Glendale College women's team, it's not because she owns the ball. It's because the person in charge of the ball, Coach Dyan Miller, gives the 5-foot-7 sophomore guard free reign on the court. Any shot is acceptable, unless it's from the parking lot. "She's creative in her scoring," Miller said.

Anyone who thought defending Western State Conference champion College of the Canyons was going to allow this year's title to slip away without a battle ought to be ashamed. Canyons (18-12, 11-4 in conference play) trailed Ventura by a half-game heading into Saturday's conference game against visiting Glendale and made certain that the Pirates gained no ground. Propelled by three sixth-inning home runs and the pitching of Mike Teich and Leiff Christofferson, Canyons blanked the Vaqueros, 6-0, keeping pace with Ventura, a 12-4 winner over Santa Monica.

Stacy Champy pitched a no-hitter and Canyons defeated Glendale, 6-0, in a Western State Conference South Division softball game Thursday at Canyons. Champy (9-10) struck out 13 batters and walked one. Traci Rocha hit a two-run double for Canyons (11-11, 7-3 in conference play. In other softball games: Pierce 13, Santa Monica 3--Jenaye Brown hit a grand slam for the Brahmas in a WSC game at Santa Monica. Amber Gutierrez went five for five, including a home run for Pierce (14-9, 8-3).

Ron Stillwell was starting to worry that his resignation was going to become effective sooner than he had expected. Stillwell, whose resignation as baseball coach at Moorpark College becomes official at the end of the season, said that a loss to Valley College on Saturday could have cost the Raiders a berth in the Western State Conference postseason tournament. "If there is any such thing as a crucial win, this was it today," Stillwell said after the Raiders rallied for an 8-4 WSC victory over Valley at Moorpark.

Don't call Marilyn Dubon a ball hog. Don't assume she's selfish or unwilling to share with teammates. If she shoots the basketball frequently for the Glendale College women's team, it's not because she owns the ball. It's because the person in charge of the ball, Coach Dyan Miller, gives the 5-foot-7 sophomore guard free reign on the court. Any shot is acceptable, unless it's from the parking lot. "She's creative in her scoring," Miller said.

Moorpark College had not given up a run in 44 innings of conference play this season until Ventura scored two in the second inning of a Western State Conference game at Moorpark. But the runs had no effect on the outcome as Moorpark posted an 11-2 victory. Moorpark (14-8, 7-0 in conference) kept its lock on first place in the WSC thanks to some help from several Valley-area products.

In other baseball games: Cuesta 9, Pierce 0--Pierce starter Mike Stephenson surrendered four runs in 3 1/3 innings and last-place Cuesta (3-12 in conference play) upset the Brahmas in a WSC game at Pierce. Southern California College 6, Cal Lutheran 3--The Vanguards scored four times in the fifth inning to rally in the Golden State Athletic Conference game at Southern California College. Doug Rystrom (6-2) went the distance, striking out two and walking three. Mission 8, East L.A. 2--Mission ended the Southern California Athletic Conference game at Valley College with a triple play.

The Oxnard College women's soccer team took the field with dreams of dethroning a dynasty. Instead, Sarah Costello of Ventura College scored on a free kick in the 30th minute and Kelly Nash added a goal in the 48th minute to lift first-place Ventura to a 2-0 Western State Conference victory Tuesday at Oxnard College. Ventura (16-3-3, 10-2-1 in conference play) can clinch its fifth consecutive WSC title with a victory Friday over Hancock at Ventura.

That was quite a number the College of the Canyons defense pulled on Hancock in a 21-14 Western State Conference Northern Division victory on Saturday. The Cougars (4-0, 2-0) sacked Ryan Canfield seven times, including three by middle linebacker Reggie Everett, who finished with 11 tackles. "We basically played to the outside and went after them," Coach Chuck Lyon said. Canyons, ranked No. 9 in the state last week but sure to move up when the rankings are released today, limited the No.

Let's consult the crystal ball--the real one, not the cheap imitation used by that false prophet in this section every football season--to predict the fate of junior college teams in the region. Concentrate, concentrate. Focus. That's it, that's it. It's all becoming clear . . . * Ventura College, defending Western State Conference Northern Division co-champion with Hancock, will make a strong run at another title. * Canyons will be in the chase for the division championship.

Three victories in three events. Not a bad day's work, nor an uncommon one, for Amy Thiel of Moorpark College in the Western State Conference track and field championships at Bakersfield College on Saturday. Thiel, a sophomore transfer from Colorado State, won the shotput in a career-best 49-6, the discus with a throw of 164-6 and the hammer throw with a toss of 178-4 to lead the Raiders to their third consecutive WSC title.

The sports crusader of the Valley is on another mission, and he won't be satisfied until baseball and softball are restored at Mission College. Duke Russell, who helped resurrect four sports at Cal State Northridge in 1997, is proposing a letter-writing campaign to encourage the Los Angeles Community College District board of trustees to force the reinstatement of Mission's programs next school year.

Oxnard and Moorpark colleges moved a step closer Wednesday night to claiming shares of the Western State Conference Northern Division men's basketball title. Oxnard defeated Hancock, 95-87, in Santa Maria and Moorpark routed Cuesta, 83-64, in San Luis Obispo. Oxnard (20-8, 7-2 in division) travels to Santa Barbara, and Moorpark (22-7, 7-2) hosts Hancock on Saturday night in regular-season finales. Sophomore Omar McCarter made nine of 10 free throws and scored a season-high 31 points for Oxnard.

John Wordin of West Hills moved up to 13th place and Shawn Cronkhite of Chatsworth climbed to 16th Friday after the second of four legs of the Mike Nields Memorial Stage Race in Fort Collins, Colo. Wordin and Cronkhite, who ride for the Miller Lite Cycling team, both finished in the lead pack Friday in the 82-mile road race. Today the pair rides in a one-hour criterium.

Chris Zavatsky says there's a new look to the Glendale College baseball team this season. He is not kidding. Starting with Zavatsky, the Vaqueros are setting out to defend consecutive Western State Conference Southern Division championships with almost an entirely new cast. "We have 21 freshmen, so we are young and untested," Zavatsky said. Or, in Zavatsky's case, a little older but still untested. Zavatsky takes over at Glendale after several seasons as pitching coach at Canyons.

Shatasha Noble has not played basketball in more than two years, but she is showing signs of regaining her game. Noble, a sophomore from Paso Robles High, scored 25 points and Ventura College defeated College of the Canyons, 73-50, in a Western State Conference interdivisional women's game Thursday night at Ventura. Ventura (19-0), ranked No. 1 in the state, may have found the offensive force needed to complement its stifling defense.