The LookOut sports
Santa Monica Sports Notes

Marissa Irvin of Santa Monica, portrayed here in a recent column, fulfilled a goal by leading Stanford to the NCAA Tennis Championship. The freshman played No. 1 singles as the Cardinal breezed through the tournament, ending it with a 5-2 victory over Florida at Gainesville, Fla.

Then the NCAA individual tournament was played, and Irvin reached the finals before losing to Zuzana Lesenarova of the University of San Diego, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

St. Monica High lost in the semifinals in CIF playoff boys
volleyball to Laguna Beach High, 18-16, 15-3, 15-2 at Estancia High. St. Monica, coached by T.G. Pearce, completed the best season in school history with a 22-6
record.

Senior Louis Coutinho had 14 kills for the Mariners... L'Orangie Crawford of Santa Monica High had the second best shot put in the girls division of the Masters track meet at 45-7 3/4 Friday at Cerritos College and qualified for the state meet this weekend in Sacramento. Also qualifying was triple jumper Jamal Watson, who finished fifth at 46-4.

Samohi pole valuter Christine Ahn didn't qualify, finishing seventh at 11-0. The first five finishers go to the state meet...

Crossroads was eliminated from the CIF baseball playoffs in the second round by L.A. Baptist, 8-3 despite home runs by Brian Roth and Adam Zweibel.

Samohi pitcher Jonas Swyer will play Connie Mack baseball this summer at Blair Field in Long Beach, as we reported last week. However, the name of the team was wrong. He will play for the California Thunder.
http://www.samohi.org http://www.nba.com/
lakers/index.htm

Mitch Chortkoff

Crossroads Begins Search For New Baseball Coach

Friday, June 4 -- Crossroads School has begun searching for a new baseball coach following the three-year reign of Rudy Valentino.

It was not clear what brought on the change but there are indications it was not Valentino's decision. Attempts to reach Valentino were unsuccessful.

Athletic Director Chuck Ice said he did not have Valentino's
resignation but will begin the interview process.

Ice recently completed interviewing candidates for the girls
basketball coaching job following the resignation of successful coach George Quintero.

``I was thrilled with the quality of candidates we had,'' said Ice.
``Five outstanding candidates have now gone on to be interviewed by our
principal. We hope to have that job filled by next week.''

Instead of being able to relax, Ice began looking for a soccer coach, and then the high-profile baseball opening arose.

Last season Crossroads reached the CIF Division 5 semifinals before losing to Kern Valley. Much was expected of this year's team, but it lost nine of its first 10 games.

The Roadrunners came back with a strong league showing to reach the CIF playoffs. They defeated Thacher, 13-1, but lost in the second round to L.A. Baptist, 8-3.

The final record was 9-13.
David Weiner, Crossroads' centerfielder who has accepted a scholarship to play at California, was named co-Most Valuable Player in the Delphic League.

Before becoming athletic director Ice was a long-time successful baseball coach at Crossroads.

In another Westside prep baseball development Thursday Santa Monica High centerfielder Andre Monroe was chosen in the 23rd round of the baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.


Monroe was the 703rd player selected.