How about something fun while we all wait for football season to start? (Well, not really wait...more like scramble...)

Here are the records of the top 10 and bottom 10 Inland football programs this decade (2000-2006), with research credit due to Eric Johnson. Teams had to have two seasons under their belt to qualify, so some Inland schools aren't eligible.
Best
1. Centennial 77-13
2. Kaiser 73-16-1
3. Riverside Christian 61-15
4. Norco 66-23
5. La Quinta 64-22-1
6. North 66-24
7. Colton 57-21-1
8. Vista Murrieta 25-10
9. Palm Springs 61-26
10. Desert Chapel 48-21-1

Worst
62. Desert Hot Springs 20-52
63. San Bernardino 18-51
64. Indio 18-52-1
65. Jurupa Valley 17-52
66. Pacific 17-54-1
67. Vista del Lago 11-36
68. Rubidoux 17-56
69. Fontana 15-56
70. Perris 14-55-2
71. Desert Mirage 0-19

It can be a fun game to quiz your friends and see how many guesses it takes them to name the top 10 and bottom 10.

Quite an honor for Rubidoux's Kyle Skipworth, who was named to the prestigious Aflac All-American Classic West team. He joins Etiwanda standout Ricky Oropesa on the West team roster. Full roster's available here.

Inland Southern California was well-represented as CalHiSports.com released its post-season softball awards, including those for all-state, all-underclass and all-small schools.

Norco sophomore pitcher Teagan Gerhart, the HSI Riverside County player of the year, heads of group of nine Inland players to make the all-state first team. Gerhart's catcher, senior Kaylyn Castillo, also was a first-team choice.

San Bernardino Cajon senior third baseman Ashley Maroda, the HSI San Bernardino-area player of the year, also was chosen to the first team.

Corona Santiago sophomore pitcher Kamerin May, the 2006 state freshman of the year, was a first-team a selection for the second straight season, as was Riverside Poly senior infielder Morgan Stuart.

Other first-team selection included Moreno Valley Canyon Springs junior catcher Morgan LeMond, Murrieta Valley senior pitcher Lindsey Sisk, Elsinore senior shortstop Aja Paculba and Fontana senior outfielder Chandra Mogan.

Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon senior outfiedler Lauren Holmes was the lone area player chosen to the second team.

Gerhart, May, LeMond, Frani Echavarria (Riverside King), Coreen Lopez (Riverside Ramona) and Anissa Young (Bloomington) were chosen to the all-underclassmen first team. Second team choices were Vista Murrieta's Tatum and Taylor Edwards, Hemet's Katie Genn, Corona's Kristen Stubblefield and Fontana Kaiser's Vanessa Lenart.

Three area players were chosen to the all-small schools team: Murrieta Calvary Chapel's Tory Ferreira, Moreno Valley Calvary Chapel's Briana Corral and Woodcrest Christian's Katie Hennessey.

Recent Murrieta Valley graduate Lindsey Sisk helped the United States Junior National team capture the gold medal at the World Championships in Enschede, Netherlands.

The United States went 10-0 in the tournament and defeated Japan, 3-1, in the gold medal game. The U.S. outscored it opponents 88-4 in tournament play.

Sisk, who has signed with the University of Arizona, pitched in two games for the U.S., allowing no runs and two hits over six innings. She walked two and struck out 10.

San Jacinto 6-foot-6 wide receiver Gordy Cooper will attend the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on a football scholarship according to Tigers football coach Bill Powell.

With his size some think Cooper, who caught 66 passes for 876 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, will become a tight end but Powell denied such talk saying the Runnin Rebels are bringing in Cooper to be a big receiver for their spread offense.

As for Cooper's teammate and Tigers offensive/defensive lineman Ryan Dannewitz, a college decision may take a little longer than expected.

Temecula Chaparral catcher Robbie Brantly has said he will attend UC Riverside, according to his coach. Brantly, the Pumas' only representative on the All-Southwestern League first team, is 6-foot-2 and will be a senior in the fall.

Southwestern League coaches have spoken positively about Brantly, who is the latest in a long line of Inland standouts to commit to the Big West champion Highlanders.

Corona Centennial's Matt Scott has said he will attend Arizona, which recruited him as a quarterback.

Scott was ranked as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the country. Last year, he threw for 1,703 yards and ran for 536 more.

“I feel like it is a good opportunity to me, (with) me being the first quarterback they brought in,” Scott said. “They run the same offense as Centennial.”

Moreno Valley Rancho Verde offensive tackle Tyron Smith (6-6, 265) has said he will attend USC, coach Pete Duffy confirmed Friday.

Smith is ranked by rivals.com as the No. 2 offensive tackle in America this year, as well as the No. 11 overall player. He will be a senior during the coming school year.

"He really wanted to get this process done with," Duffy said. "You know, once we went to Junior Day (at USC) and he got up there and got around them, he just felt like they made him a part of the family. The coaches, he just clicked with everybody up there. It’s one of the best programs, it's in SoCal, its in the Pac-10. He's not a guy that’s afraid of the competition. He knew wherever he wanted to go, he would play."

Steve Hagerty, former head football coach at Riverside Poly, has been hired as assistant football coach and resource specialist at Perris Citrus Hill. He will coordinate the passing game, according to CH athletic director Rich Shearer.

Poly finished 3-7 last season, 10-27-3 in Hagerty's four years at the school. He resigned in December.

Hemet's Hamani Stevens has said he will attend UCLA, according to a UCLA recruiting site.

Stevens, who will be a senior this fall, had been offered by schools like MIchigan State and UTEP, where his brother plays.

Stevens comes from a long line of accomplished Hemet football players -- coach Andy Boynton has had at least one Stevens on his team every year, and he's been at Hemet over a decade -- and at 6-2 and approximately 300 pounds, he was the top lifter on last year's Hemet team. Given his size, speed and mobility, UCLA will likely use Stevens as an interior lineman.

Stevens is an outgoing, energetic player who should be able to handle the rigors of college football. One of the highlights of each Hemet football season is the team meal Stevens' parents prepare for the team prior to every homecoming game.

Stevens was named to the CalHiSports all-state underclassman team after last season and was first-team All-Sunbelt League on offense and defense. He was named to The Press-Enterprise All-Riverside County Football Team after last season.

This will run in the Saturday paper, but for those who miss it or are curious now, here are our local baseball draftees. My comments are below.

Rd. Overall Name School Pos. Team
1 26 James Simmons UCR*/Norco P Athletics
3 105 Daniel Carroll Valley View CF Mariners
5 175 Mark Rzepczynski UCR P Blue Jays
7 243 Lucas Duda USC*/Arlington 1B Mets
9 284 Daniel Runzler UCR LHP Giants
9 296 Jaime Pedroza UCR* SS Dodgers
11 345 Jeff Dunbar UCR C Mariners
11 352 Adam Reifer UCR* RHP Cardinals
12 369 Wally Crancer Ga.Tech/RCC/Norco RF Orioles
12 376 Garrett Parcell SDSU/Norco RHP Marlins
13 406 Chris Shafer Cajon RHP Marlins
13 410 Kyle Ocampo Poly RHP Rangers
20 615 Stephen Penney UCR* RHP Mariners
21 635 Kevin Brophy UCLA/Paloma Val. RHP Devil Rays
27 820 Aaron Seuss CBU/Palm Desert RF Nationals
28 848 Matt Clark RCC 3B Pirates
30 918 Rene Escobar RCC/Perris 1B Braves
31 958 Eddie Orozco Rubidoux RHP White Sox
32 985 Anthony Renteria Great Oak CF Padres
34 1040 Brett Hambright Temescal Canyon C Phillies
36 1075 Herbert Hudson MSJC OF Athletics
38 1121 Randy Yard Palm Desert RHP Braves
38 1123 B.J. Salsbury San Jacinto RHP Rangers
39 1170 Joe Scott Cal St. Full.*/Centennial SS Brewers
41 1219 Tyler Topp RCC/Woodcrest Chr. RHP Royals
42 1257 Bryson Rahier Cajon C Braves
46 1349 Reyes Dorado RCC RHP Pirates
*college junior

Carroll
Carroll knows he didn't hit as well as he could have this year (.343), but he possesses several traits you can't teach. He's got tremendous speed (6.4-6.6 in the 60), a cannon for an arm (a rare trait among speedsters), and good size. He's also got an above-average batting eye for a prep player and isn't afraid to lean into one.

Shafer
He worked closely with a Marlins scout, to the point that the scout taught him a new, more effective grip on his slider. With an 88-93 mph fastball that projects as having good sink, and a 6-2, 235-pound frame, Shafer is projectable. He said the Marlins told him to expect a lot of lifting and a lot of running in rookie ball. He was 7-0 with a 1.83 ERA and hit .453 with seven homers.

Ocampo
Ocampo throws an easy 94 and his slider could develop into a solid pro pitch. With an improved changeup, those two pitches would work even better. Ocampo said the Rangers are thinking about using him as a closer. He's a rangy 6-3 and could potentially add something to his pitches. Evidence of that could be found in the fact that he's throwing harder this year than last year. He finished 8-1 with a 2.01 ERA.

Orozco
Orozco is an impressive pitcher who drew plenty of scouts this year; his low draft position could be reflective of his having signed a letter of intent with UC Riverside, because on talent alone he could have gone higher (as could have several other players drafted below him). Orozco has solid velocity but it's the movement on his pitches that often impresses area coaches. Orozco was 10-2 with an 0.81 ERA this year and also batted .518 with good power.

Renteria
The son of former Lake Elsinore Storm manager Rick Renteria, now the manager of the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in Portland, Renteria is a center fielder with a good build and power potential. Renteria batted only .286 with four home runs for Temecula Great Oak this year, but he hit .387 last season with 15 extra-base hits.

Hambright
Hambright, another UCR signee, has good tools behind the plate and previously in his prep career was a good pitcher. With a powerful build and a strong arm, Hambright has potential behind the dish. He hit .432 and walked 22 times this year.

Yard
Yard was hurt for much of the season, but despite being only 6 feet tall, he has a powerful arm and was considered a Division I/draftable talent because of his low 90s velocity and command of four pitches. He struck out 21 in 15 innings and was 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA.

Salsbury
He played in a Division 6 league, but Salsbury's stats -- 13-2, 0.57 ERA, 159 strikeouts in 98 innings -- are no mirage. He struck out 13 against a Division 1 league champ and nine against the top-ranked team in Division 3. Additionally, the Major League scouting bureau rates Salsbury's curve very highly on the scouting scale. He's another UCR signee.

Rahier
Rahier has good size behind the plate and showed versatility this year. After moving to the top of the lineup, he walked 24 times and finished with a .513 OBP to go with a .389 average. He was an early signee of San Jose State.

After speaking on the phone with reigning-Press Enterprise Riverside County football coach of the year, Pat Thompson of Riverside Notre Dame, who by the way had decided to continue coaching the Titans, I'm thinking Titans starting running back Kenjon Barner is going to have a busy summer.

Thompson told me several schools have been in contact with the shifty, explosive running back/defensive back, which is reiterated here, and Thompson also mentioned that UCLA and USC have also been in contact regarding Barner, which is not said in the above-linked story.

Thompson also said Barner has added 20-25 pounds of muscle to his frame since the Titans lost to San Jacinto in the East Valley Division semifinals of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Barner, who is also an excellent basketball player, is definitely one athlete to keep a close eye on when the season begins in September. The soon-to-be senior impressed many in transferring last season to the Titans from 8-man Moreno Valley Calvary Chapel and his senior season could be even better.

Stay tuned.

San Bernardino Cajon High tennis player Jessica Roddy was selected as one of 35 nationwide winners of a $5,000 college scholarship by the MassMutual Foundation, through an association with the U.S. Tennis Association. The 35 honorees were chosen on the basis of success in tennis and academics, and their contributions to the local community. Roddy twice won the San Andreas League singles title, was on the track and field team and was an assistant softball coach for a middle school team, according to a release. Roddy plans to attend Cal State San Bernardino.

A bad exchange between Tommy Curry and anchor Nevin Gutteriez cost the team the win.

Curry came in with the led over Long Beach Poly when he and Gutteriez couldn't get off a clean exchange.

That allowed Bryshon Nellum, who set national records in the 200 and 400 earlier, to claim the lead.

Despite an incredible effort by Gutteriez to reclaim the lead, the distance was too much to overcome.

Poly won in 3:10.92, the second best time in the country.

North took second in 3:16.94.

Poly won the boys title with 46 points, North was second with 32.

This just in...

CIF announced 18,116 fans came out for the two-day state track meet.

Friday's prelims drew 6,945.

Saturday brought in 11,171.

North sophomore Reggie Wyatt took second in the 300 hurdles in 35.90 seconds.

The time is the all-time sophomore best in the nation.

The winner, LA Taft senior Jeshua Anderson won in 35.28, the best time in the country this year.

Wyatt will compete in the 1600 relay at 8:30 p.m.

Palm Desert senior Joe Canavan won the state shot put title today with a mark of 67-1 1/2.

The mark is the best in ths state and in Riverside County history.

Since it's a long time until Sunday morning, I figured I'd put the score of the Division 6 baseball final on the blog for those curious.

Joe Kling's sac fly to short right field scored Sal Estanislao with the winning run and made a winner out of reliever B.J. Salsbury as San Jacinto won its first boys championship in its history, which dates back to 1893.

The teams were tied, 2-2, for most of the game before the Tigers won it in the bottom of the seventh.

Long Beach Poly senior Bryshon Nellum defeated North senior Nevin Gutteriez in the 400.

Nellum won in 45.54 seconds. Gutteriez took second in 47.10.

Brittany Bozeman, Jessika Hornsby, Precious Watkins and Alicia King brought home the gold in the 400 relay.

Their time of 45.74 matches their best this year which is the second best in the state and nation.

North sophomore Reggie Wyatt's best time, 36.52 seconds, is the ninth best in the nation.

But the contest will also feature Los Angeles Taft senior Jeshua Anderson who set the second best time in the nation, clocking in at 35.34 last night.

Wyatt said he would try to set a new record tonight. But with competing in the 400 and 1600 relays, it will be a challenge

This will be the last State finals for North coach Charles Leathers.

What's he done in his 33 year career in high school track ,with 16 of those seasons at North?

Here's is count of state titles at North: 11 individual girls titles, three girls team titles, a girls 1600 relay crown and a boys 1600 relay crown.

He also led the Compton Centennial boys 1600 relay to a state title in 1980.

Here's a list of locals and events they're in:

Boys
Joe Canavan, Palm Desert, shot put
Nevin Gutteriez, North, 400
Chad Hall, Big Bear, 1600 & 3200
Dylan Knight, La Sierra, 1600 & 3200
Spencer Knight, La Sierra, 1600 & 3200
Cameron Stepney, San Gorgonio, 300 hurdles
Ryan Swafford, Vista Murrieta, triple jump
Reggie Wyatt, North, 300 hurdles
Realys
North 400 & 1600
Girls
Jessika Hornsby, Rancho Verde, 100 & 200
Alicia King, Rancho Verde, 200
Kiersten Kirkland, North, 300 hurdles
April Pate, Carter, 300 hurdles
Relays
North 1600
Rancho Verde 400

North coach Charles Leathers said he decided on who will run which leg on the 1600 relay - maybe.

"That will be the last thing I decided," Leathers said. "I'm pretty sure what I want to do. But things could change."

Leahters said he decided to take senior Thomas Henry out and replace him with Aaron Westbrook to allow Henry the opportunity to focus on the 400 relay.

The current order of the 1600 is Westbrook, Reggie Wyatt, Tommy Curry and Nevin Gutteriez.

The Huskies 1600 relay advanced by winning their heat.

But Senior Thomas Henry, who usually takes the first leg was replaced by senior Aaron Westbrook.

"We just decided to make a change," Nevin Gutteriez, who is also on the relay, said.

He didn't elaborate.

In all, 12 individual area athletes and all four relay teams that qualified for the prelims advanced to the finals.

Reggie Wyatt advanced by taking the top spot in his 300 hurdles heat in 37.24 seconds to move into the finals.

His time was the third be overall.

Los Angeles Taft senior Jeshua Anderson finished in 35.34, the best time at the meet and the second best time in the nation this year.

Long Beach senior Bryshon Nellum set a record in the 200.

His wind-aided time of 20.45 seconds in the contest is the best time by a California high schooler under any condition.

Following his effort in the shot put, Joe Canavan was asked by a kid for his autogrpah.

And it wasn't the first time.

"I had two guys come up to me over the summer and ask for it," he said. "It's cool. It's not like I'm going to say no. It's a perk of being a one man show."

Palm Desert senior Joe Canavan launched a toss in the shot put that measured 68 feet.

Too bad it was in warm-ups.

Canavan did move on, with a toss in the contest that measured 59-8 3/4.

"The energy just wasn't there," he said of the contest. "But with the stands full, it will be there tomorrow. It better be there."

Riverside La Sierra borthers and seniors Dylan and Spencer Knight advanced in the 1600.

Dylan finished third in his heat in 4:10.67.

Spencer took third in the seocnd heat in 4:13.26.

Big Bear senior Chad Hall also moved on, taking second in the second heat..

CIF annouced all heat winners in the running events, no matter how many heats may be in one event, will advance followed by the next fastest times to equal nine athletes or relay teams.

North won its heat in 41.13, the third best time in the state and the country.

Reggie Wyatt anchored the team which was just .01 behind its Masters time last week.

Wyatt will also compete in the 300 hurdles later tonight.

North senior thrower Whitney Ashely finished eighth in the shot put to move onto the finals tomorrow.

Top nine finishers in field events advance.

Her qualifying toss measured 40-feet, 10 inches.

Rosario Sanchez from Selma took the top spot with a toss that measured 47-04 1/2.

Relaxing under a tree with a cool breeze in the air, North coach Charles Leathers is a veteran of the CIF track playoff system.

And he said he knows one of the biggest keys to the success of his team is battling a common enemy - hunger.

"We fed the kids already," Leathers said. "You know, we don't want to be driving around here after 11 p.m. trying to find something for them to eat."

Leathers also said the 1600 relay team will consist of sophomore Reggie Wyatt, junior Tommy Curry and seniors Thomas Henry and Nevin Gutteriez.

But he added he may change the order of the legs they run.

At Masters, Gutteriez, who ran the anchor, gave up the North lead to Long Beach Poly senior Bryshon Nellum.

Poly won the race in 3:11.17. North was second in 3:11.73.

North's boys 1600 relay is set to run in the second of four heats.

Long Beach Poly will run in the first heat.

Currently, each heat winner and the next six fasest times times advance the finals in contests that have three heats.

CIF officials are working to determine the rules for contests that have four heats at the moment.

The current understaning in that each heat winner will move on with the next five fastest times follwoing to the finals.

When I hear that officially, I'll let you know.

Dyestatcal.com is predicting Riverside North will take the state track title in the 400-meter relay. But Long Beach Poly will win the 1600 relay.

The Web site is also suggesting North may move sophomore Reggie Wyatt into the anchor spot in the 1600 in an effort to fight off Poly senior Bryshon Nellum.

We''ll find out who wins what starting today at 2 p.m. with the state track prelims.

Check back here for updates throughout of the event.

Well, after a 12-run eighth inning (nine by LA Loyola, three by La Mirada) delayed the start of the Vista Murrieta-Camarillo Division 2 baseball final by about an hour, things are close to getting underway here at Dodger Stadium.

A few thousand fans are on hand, with the clear majority on Camarillo's side. When Vista Murrieta was first introduced before the game, the Camarillo section booed -- and again when the Bronco players were first being introduced.

On the positive side, the fans are seated behind the retaining wall on the lower level, so the players and umpires shouldn't be able to hear much heckling during the game.

In the first game of the day, a couple of players came within 10-20 feet of home runs to the power alleys, but with the cool, damp air that rolls into Chavez Ravine at night, I'll be impressed if anyone in the nightcap reaches the warning track on the fly. Should anyone do so, I'll make a note of it.

San Jacinto and Beaumont will face off in the Division 6 final, giving the Inland area at least one guaranteed baseball champion this year.

I think it will be a pretty interesting game. Beaumont saved its ace, Brent Bray, for the final, while San Jacinto ace B.J. Salsbury threw a shutout in a semifinal win over Bishop.

Therefore, because of the 10-innings-per-week limit, San Jacinto might have to lean on freshman Miguel Navarro, who's pitched well this year, before going to Salsbury in relief.

The Tigers took two of three from Beaumont this year in a competitive Mountain Pass League series, but Beaumont beat the Tigers in the Banning Tournament, so it's clear how competitive a contest between these two squads can be.

After Vista Murrieta's come-from-behind, 5-4 win over host Oxnard Rio Mesa Tuesday, infielders T.S. Reed and D.C. Legg broke away from the victory throng and gave themselves enough room to do a running, jumping high five, as immortalized by then-Dodgers Glenn Burke and Dusty Baker after Baker hit a grand slam in Game 2 of the 1977 NLCS.

For those unfamiliar with the moment, which was captured on video and remains an iconic image, had a lot to do with popularizing the high five in sports. Here is part of an article by Lyle Spencer that appeared in the 1981 Dodger Yearbook:

The Dodgers and their fans are ecstatic as Baker tours the bases behind his three teammates, but the ultimate expression of the moment doesn't come until Dusty approaches the dugout.

"That's right," Dusty Baker says, smiling handsomely with the recollection of the magic moment. "That was it. The first 'High Five.' "

Baker reportedly took the high-five very seriously. One account I've read details how Baker starting a brawl with the Padres in 1982 because he felt the Padres weren't good enough to high-five on the field.

The point of all this, of course, is that Reed, Legg and the rest of the Broncos will play Thursday night at Dodger Stadium, site of that iconic high five.

The Broncos lost in the Division 3 final last year at Angel Stadium, but as coach Dave Legg noted, "Maybe going to a different stadium will get it done this time."

La Sierra seniors and brothers Dylan and Spencer Knight advanced in the 1600 and 3200 races.

Distance coach Will Jacobsmeyer said prior to the meet that if they both qualified, they may not run both events at state because Dylan is better in the 1600 and Spencer's speciality is the 3200

But that may not be the case, considering how well Dylan ran in both contests.

Dylan finished fourth in the 1600, 4:11.46.

Spencer took eighth in 4:14.88.

In the 3200, Dylan took third in 9:05.18 and Spencer finished sixth in 9:09.34.

Big Bear senior Chad Hall just won the 3200 at the CIF-SS Masters Meet.

Royal standout Michael Cybulski took the lead away from Hall in the last lap.

But Hall turned on the afterburners to retake the lead in the last 200 meters for the win.

Hall finished second in the 1600 and will advance to the state meet in both.

North Sophomore Reggie Wyatt just won the 300 hurdles in 36.52 seconds at the CIF-SS Masters Meet.

That's the seventh fastest time in the country this year and second best in the state.

He still has the 1600 relay to run at about 9 p.m.

Rancho Verde senior Alicia King won the 100 meter dash in 11.68 seconds at the CIF-SS Master Meet.

And, no surprise, Palm Desert senior Joe Canavan won the shot put with a mark of 64-feet, 10 1/4 inches.

Canavan has yet to best his state record of 66 feet which he set April 7 at the Arcadia Invite.

Leaving the burning question, can he beat the mark at state?

North's boys 400 relay, consisting of sophomore Reggie Wyatt, junior Tommy Curry and seniors Thomas Henry and Nevin Gutteriez won the event at the CIF-SS Masters track meet in 41.12 seconds.

The team just avoided a disasters handoff between Curry and Wyatt, who ran the last leg.

Wyatt began his run early and Curry had trouble catching him.

The four athletes will run the 1600 later tonight.

The Rancho Verde girls 400 relay team set the second best time in the nation today at the CIF-SS track and field Masters meet.

The team, consisting of sophomore Brittany Bozeman and seniors Jessika Hornsby, Precious Watkins and Alicia King won the section title in 45.74.

In what must be an effort to focus on the 1600 relay, which the Huskies won a state title in last year, sophomore Reggie Wyatt is a scratch in the 400 and senior Nevin Gutteriez has been removed from the 200 at the CIF-SS Masters Meet today.

Wyatt won the D 2 title in the 400 last week and Gutteriez won the 200 crown.

Wyatt, who won the D 2 title inthe 300 hurdles and holds the second best time in the state in that event, will compete in that event today.

Many of you might remember David Ortega and co. from the stats page of your HSI magazine, as well as the pages of the sports section. Now they'll be trying to make some noise in Chula Vista.

Blythe Palo Verde Valley coach George Dagnino reports that quarterback Ortega, WR-DB A.J. Kemp, WR-DB Michael St. Jules and RB Brandon Rogers will all be attending Southwestern College in Chula Vista next year.

Ortega was the Inland area passing leader last year (3,697 yards, 40 TD, 6 INT) and holds the San Diego Section record for career passing yards, while Kemp led the Inland area in receiving last year (96 receptions for 1,598 yards and 20 TD).

However, it's hard to get recruited in Blythe, and therefore the former Yellowjackets will head to Southwestern College, where they figure to attract more attention. Here's wishing them the best of luck.

Yesterday, I traveled 260 miles round trip to cover the Norco/Westlake Oaks Christian Division 4 semifinal boys volleyball match and all the miles were well worth it.

The match was one of the best high school sporting events I've had the chance to cover this high school season regardless of sport.

Lower on this blog, you will find that I said Norco was better than a No. 10 seed, which was where they were slated in the final CIF Division 4 rankings and last night they came through again, nearly shocking Oaks Christian before eventually losing.

Norco's fight in coming back from an 0-2 deficit to force a hard fought fifth game was astonishing considering the opponent. Oaks Christian is not just an average team. They are the two-time defending Division 4 champion and were the No. 1 seed in the bracket again this season. They had not lost a playoff game in two seasons and were not even challenged in the two matches they played entering the game.

Norco played was no fear in the final three games. They played like a team that had been there before, when in fact they had not since the program had never advanced past the second round.

Norco's effort even in defeat was gratifying not only for the program but for Inland area boys volleyball because the Cougars showed it is possible for an Inland team to contend with the traditional powers from LA, Ventura and Orange Counties.

The one thing that is sad about the Norco team, is that they will not get another chance to play together since most of their roster is leaving with eight seniors graduating including their best player Jake Celestin. Two solid players will remain in Taylor Sander and Mitch Dunham but after last night's match, I just kept wondering what this Norco team could have done if they had one more season together. I imagine it would have been special considering the performance they put on last night.

Although he's currently in the throws of the CIF track postseason, Riverside North sophmore Reggie Wyatt will need to start making travel arrangements.

Wyatt has been selected to compete in the 5th annual IAAF World Youth Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, July 11-15.

Wyatt, who will compete in the 400, 400 and 1600 relays and the 300 hurdles Friday at the CIF-SS Maters Meet, will compete in the 400 hurdles and the World Championships.

Moreno Valley Rancho Verde track stars Alicia King and Precious Watkins, who are members of the 400 relay team which will comepte at the Masters meet Friday, signed national letters of intent.

Watkins singed with Cal State Northridge on Friday.

King signed with San Deigo State University Tuesday.

The other senior member of the relay squad, Jessika Hornsby hasn't decided where she's going to go.

Riverside Poly's Chelsea Arellano has been one of the area's most valuable No.2 pitchers for the past three seasons, and the senior right-hander definitely showed her worth once again Tuesday as the Bears held on to defeat Santa Ana Foothill, 4-3, in a Division 1 second-round playoff game.

Foothill cut two runs off a three-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Knights had the tying run on base with one out. Arellano relieved starter Kendall Gorham and recorded the next two outs to end the threat.

Arellano, a senior, then set down Foothill in the seventh inning, stranding another potential tying run on third base, to pick up the save. .

Riverside Poly, No.10 in the HSI.PE.com rankings, plays Corona Santiago in a quarterfinal game Thursday.

Can one at-bat turn a player's season around?

For any of you naysayers out there, I now present the case of Norco's Nicole Angene.

Angene is one of the area's most physically-gifted softball players, but at times, the senior first baseman has had a frustrating season at plate. Most notably was Angene's struggles against Corona Santiago's Kamerin May, who had fanned Angene eight times in nine at-bats heading into her final plate appearance April 27.

For the third time this season, the Sharks intentionally walked Kim Kissell to get to Angene. The previous two times led to a ground out and strikeout for Angene.

(Cliche alert) However, the third time was the charm for Angene, who bounced a single over the infield to score Teagan Gerhart and give the Cougars a 1-0 victory.

Angene's final playoffs got off to a positive start, as she belted two doubles to the outfield wall in Norco's 3-0 Division 1 second-round win over Lake Forest El Toro. Angene will try to keep her hot streak going Thursday, as the Cougars (No.1 in the HSI.PE.com rankings and the No. 3 seed in Division 1) plays Riverside Ramona in quarterfinal game Thursday.

Corona Santiago got off to a solid start in defense of its Division 1 softball crown, pounding out 13 hits en rout to a 9-0 victory over Santa Margarita.

Meredith Hackett, Kamerin May, Kristin May, Danyella Charron and Brianna Turang two hits apiece for the Sharks, No.2 in the HSI.PE.com rankings. Hackett launched her sixth home run of the season, a three-run blast in the sixth inning.

"We turned 'em lose today," Santiago coach John Perez said of his hitters.

The outburst is a good sign for Santiago, whose losses over the past few seasons often have been due to a lack of offensive production. Four of the Sharks' five losses this season have been shutouts (Norco twice, Upland and Long Beach Wilson).

Santiago next faces Riverside Poly in a quarterfinal game Tuesday.

On March 28, Riverside Ramona's Christina Bolin hit one of the most impressive home runs I've ever seen from a softball player, launching a ball over the center field fence and off the baseball dugout at Riverside Poly.

I estimated Bolin's shot traveled about 270 feet, and it also prompted Rams coach Laura Shinar to refer to her senior shortstop as "Bomb-zilla."

Well, "Bomb-zilla" Bolin was at it again Tuesday, launching a game-deciding two-run home run and helping the Rams win their Division 1 playoff debut, 2-1, over Simi Valley Royal, which won the Division 1 title back in 2005.

Up next for Ramona is a quarterfinal matchup with third-seeded Norco on Thursday. Norco and Ramona are No.1 and No.4, respectively, in the HSI.PE.com rankings.

Is it possible for a team to be afraid of a name?

That very well could be case for the Garden Grove Pacifica softball team, which will play host to Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon in a Division 2 quarterfinal game Thursday.

A quick look at Temescal Canyon's season statistics show senior Amanda May being the the ace of the pitching staff. Last season, it was another May, Corona Santiago's Kamerin May, who shut down the Mariners' vaunted offense in the Division 1 title game.

Pacifica still boasts one of the top offenses in the division, with UCLA-bound shortstop Monica Harrison leading the way (9 HR, 38 RBI). As a team, the Mariners are batting .340 with 29 home runs, and they've been averaging 6.5 runs per game.

However, the Mariners have been vulnerable to hard-throwing pitcher with good rise balls. Amanda May definitely qualifies as hard-throwing, and she'll probably be working on her rise ball at Wednesday's practice.

Of course, this could be a moot point if Titans coach Kevin Simpson decides to throw Pacifica an off-speed pitch and throw crafty left-hander Janelle Valle. Either way, the Titans are in good shape because both May and Valle both have big-game experience.

Moreno Valley Canyon Springs senior shortstop Tiffany Lane has to be on the short list for the area's most dangerous softball leadoff hitters.

Lane scored both of the Cougars runs in their 2-1 victory over Chino Don Lugo in the second round of the Division 2 playoffs on Tuesday. She beat out a bunt for a single in the first inning and came around to score the team's first run on a ground out. In the fifth inning, Lane reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Melissa Rivera's triple.

On the season, Lane is batting .551 with 56 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.

Canyon Springs will face Cypress, the third-place team from Empire League, in the quarterfinals Thursday. Cypress is not a typical third-place team, however. The Centurions did lose five games in league play, but four of those losses came to the division's No.1 and No.3 seeded teams (La Palma Kennedy and Garden Grove Pacifica, respectively). Cypress also is the team that eliminated No.2 seed Orange El Modena in the first round.

Dick Bruich is known to many people for his coaching exploits on the football field, but the gravelly-voiced Bruich is becoming quite the accomplished softball coach, too.

Bruich's Fontana Kaiser softball team advanced to the Division 3 quarterfinal round with a 5-2 victory over Arcadia on Tuesday. The Cats are the lone area team standing in Division 3, as Colton and San Bernardino Cajon both lost on Tuesday.

Freshman Alyssia Palomino, this week's HSI.PE.com Player of the Week, had a rough start inside the circle, allowing two first-inning runs, but she bounced back and held Arcadia scoreless for the next six innings.

Kaiser's offense also was held scoreless for six of the seven innings, but the Cats scratched up five run in the fifth inning to support Palomino. Sophomore Marquis Lozoya's three-run home run was the biggest hit of the inning, giving the Cats a 4-2 lead.

Bruich and his players might have been a little surprised when they learned who will be their next opponent, as Whittier California stunned top-seeded Westlake Village Oaks Christian, 3-2. California entered the playoff with a 14-15 record, but the Condors have played one of the toughest schedules of any team in Division 3.

Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World's run to the Division 5 softball quarterfinals has been quite impressive, considering the Fighting Scots went winless in Coach Bill Kelly's first season at the school five years ago.

Tuesday, Rim of the World pulled off its third consecutive one-run victory, beating San Jacinto, 2-1. The Scots won their wild-card game against Alhambra, 2-1, and their first-round game against Victorville Silverado, 6-5.

Sophomore pitcher Erica Prentice has thrown her hat - or perhaps her headband - into the ring to be chosen The Press-Enterprise's San Bernardino-area Player of the Year. Prentice tossed a four-hitter and struck out 11 on Tuesday, and she also scored both of the Scots' runs. On the season, Prentice is hitting .506 with 29 runs scored; inside the circle, she has 16-5 record with a 0.74 earned run and 268 strikeouts in 152 innings.

The Scots face a familair opponent Thursday: Mojave River League foe Hesperia. Rim won the first meeting, 2-1, while the top-seeded Scorpions took the next two games, 7-0 and 13-2. Prentice did not pitch the final game for the Scots.

As a proud graduate of a one-time Victory League school (Riverside Bethel Christian), it's hard for me not to hide my excitement to see three Victory League softball teams advancing to the Division 7 quarterfinals.

Moreno Valley Calvary Chapel's campus has experienced an emotional month of May, with a current student and a former student both passing away tragically. The Lions' softball team also has gone through a rough stretch, with pitcher Liz Perez lost for the season after undergoing an appendectomy last week. Still, Calvary Chapel has managed to push on, pulling out victories by the scores of 9-7 and 9-6. Up next for the second-seeded Lions is a long trip to the Lancaster area to face Acton Vasquez.

Calimesa Mesa Grande has shown the school is more than just a girls basketball powerhouse. The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 37-1 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Mesa Grande pounded out 18 hits Tuesday, including nine extra-base hits, two apiece for Rachel Kinney (3B, HR), Hilary Nieland (2B, 3B), Rochelle Cummings ( two 2B) and Alyse Schwerdt (two 2B). Up next for the Cardinals is a matchup with top-seeded Camarillo Cornerstone Christian.

Hemet Baptist Christian also has steamrolled through its first two games, outscoring its opponents 21-6. The Warriors pounded out 14 hits on Tuesday, including a 4-for-4 effort from sophomore Vanessa Yonkers. Celeste Reber, Denielle Flores and winning pitcher Nikki Robertson added two hits apiece. Up next for Hemet Baptist Christian is a home game against fourth-seeded Canoga Park Faith Baptist.

All of this winning might have Entourage's Johnny Drama proclaiming, "Victory!!!!!"

Not be outdone, the Big Sky League also has seen three of its softball teams advance to the quarterfinals, this trio of winners coming in the Division 6 playoffs

Woodcrest Christian, Riverside Christian and Murrieta Calvary Chapel all split games with one another during the regular season, and the tough competition has seemingly prepared the teams for the postseason.

Woodcrest Christian had the toughest time getting out of the second round Tuesday, but the Royals held on for a 7-6 victory over Los Angeles. Woodcrest Christian trailed 4-0 at the ouset before rallying to take a 7-4 lead after six innings. Marymount pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh, but Alexis Alonzo relieved starter Marissa David and recorded the final two outs of the game. Alonzo also was the hitter star, going 3 for 4 with four runs batted in. Next up for second-seeded Royals is a road game at Valley Village Campbell Hall.

Riverside Christian, seeking its first CIF softball title since 2003, also had to come from behind Tuesday. The Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull out an 8-6 victory over Capistrano Valley Christian. Freshman Asia Alvarez was the winning pitcher and she went 3 for 4 with a double and home run at the plate. Riverside Christian, the No.4, seed will face Montebello Cantwell Sacred Heart on Thursday.

Murrieta Calvary Chapel, the Division 6 runner-up last season, is making another strong push to make it back to Barber Park in Irvine. The Warriors have outscored their opponents 29-1 in the first rounds of the playoffs. Tory Ferreira, arguably the top pitcher in the division, fired a one-hitter and struck out 13 to pick up the victory. Up next for the third-seeded Warriors is a home game against Garden Serra.

Tuesday's second-round games weren't kind to Inland baseball teams. The number of area squads still alive dropped from 23 to 10. Here's who still has a chance at a title:

Division (number of Inland teams that made playoffs in that division) -- Inland teams still alive
D1 (9) -- none
D2 (7) -- Temescal Canyon, Vista Murrieta
D3 (6) -- Cajon, Hemet
D4 (6) -- Palm Desert
D5 (6) -- Woodcrest Chr.,
D6 (11) -- Beaumont, 29 Palms, San Jacinto
D7 (11) -- Packinghouse Chr.

Here, also, is a chart of all possible meetings between two area teams.

Local-local matchups possible:
D1 -- none
D2 -- Vista Murrieta-Temescal in finals
D3 -- Cajon-Hemet in quarterfinals
D4 -- none
D5 -- none
D6 -- San Jacinto-Twentynine Palms in quarterfinals; Beaumont-(San Jacinto or Twentynine Palms) in finals
D7 -- none