Notre Dame Pair Sign on the Line

It likely was an NCAA first, extending the boundaries of telephone technology.

Earlier this month, during the NCAA’s early-signing period for college-bound seniors, Notre Dame High infielders Glen Carson and Ryan Stromsborg decided to accept scholarship offers from USC.

The final moments of their recruitment process were rather confusing and somewhat frenetic. When the pair committed to play at USC they were, in fact, on the telephone simultaneously with yet another party--a newspaper reporter.

Carson and Stromsborg, close friends, set up a three-way conference call and phoned a newspaper to announce their college intentions. Neither player, though, had given a commitment to USC Coach Mike Gillespie.

While the pair were jointly discussing their decision with the reporter, Gillespie phoned Carson at home on another line. Carson fielded the call, gave his commitment and returned to the conference call.

Said Carson: “OK, I committed. Now it’s official.”

Said Stromsborg: “Way to go.”

About 30 seconds later, Gillespie called Stromsborg, who took the call and made his commitment.

It could mark the first time in NCAA history that two student-athletes committed during the same phone call while talking to yet another party.

DECISION TIME

Don’t color San Fernando Coach Tom Hernandez gone. At least, not yet.

Hernandez, who just completed his 11th season, has been mulling retirement from coaching for a while. He said he expects to reach a decision over the winter break, although if the tone of his voice is any indication don’t expect him to return.

“I’m just kinda tired of it all,” said Hernandez, a former All-City Section lineman at San Fernando. “The whole thing is getting old, especially the problems with the school district.”

Hernandez, 35, started coaching in 1982 and has more victories than any other coach in school history. His teams have compiled a record of 73-43-2. The Tigers, who began fielding teams 78 years ago, won or shared league titles in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988 and 1990 under Hernandez.

Hernandez said he was considering quitting long before a San Fernando player died of heatstroke during a preseason workout. Hernandez said that if he decides to quit he will recommend that first-year defensive coordinator Sean Blunt take his place. Blunt was an All-City player at San Fernando in 1983.

ADD DECISION TIME

After Friday’s 13-7 overtime loss top-seeded Bell Gardens in the opening round of the Southern Section Division III playoffs, Agoura Coach Frank Greminger hinted about retirement.

Greminger, 54, said next season--which will be his 24th as the Chargers’ coach--might be his last.

“I’m just thinking about it,” he said.

Greminger, who led Agoura (6-5) to its first playoff appearance since it joined the Marmonte League in 1990, said he would continue teaching at the school.

ONE SMART ‘MOOSE’

By football standards, Nordhoff junior receiver and free safety James Colborn is not the biggest of individuals. He stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 170 pounds.

But, please, call him “Moose.”

“When I was born, I weighed nine or 10 pounds,” Colborn said. “When they handed me to my parents, the doctors said, ‘Here’s your moose,’ and it stuck.”

Colborn, the nephew of former major league 20-game winner Jim Colborn, is the Rangers’ second-leading receiver with 19 receptions for 259 yards and four touchdowns. He also calls the signals for the defensive backfield.

“I never thought I’d have a moose in the secondary,” Coach Cliff Farrar joked. “With a name like that, he should be playing middle linebacker.”

NO MARGIN FOR ERROR

Headlines we will never see: Chatsworth Bullies Hapless Foe; Chancellors Manhandle City Opponent; Chatsworth Bludgeons Playoff Rival.

It’s not going to happen, Chatsworth Coach Myron Gibford said. He relates this fact to his players over and over.

“We are definitely a finesse team,” he said. “It’s execution. We have to work harder than the other guy. I’m being honest. We have to out-finesse and out-execute the teams we play.”

The Chancellor offensive linemen average 195 pounds, Gibford said. But something must be working. Quarterback David Muir (1,417 yards) and running back Nestor Davila (1,475) lead area City Section players in passing and rushing.

EVERYTHING’S RELATIVE

Crespi saw plenty of Mater Dei two-way standout Nickey Sualua in its 40-0, first-round playoff loss last week. Sualua rushed for five touchdowns and added a score on a 30-yard fumble return.

Sualua’s performance hurt Crespi for another reason. Sualua is a cousin of former Mater Dei and USC standout Kennedy Pola, also a former Crespi assistant.

SURPRISE PACKAGE

L.A. Baptist girls’ volleyball Coach Sue Newcomb chuckled when she learned that the Knights, the defending Division V champions, were ranked second in a Southern Section preseason poll. With only one returning starter, Sarah Rameson, Newcomb wondered if her team could even win the Alpha League title.

But Newcomb’s smile was one of satisfaction when the Knights surprised her by reaching the Division V final again and qualified for the state playoffs for the second year in a row. Even a loss to Capistrano Valley Christian on Saturday didn’t dampen Newcomb’s mood.

“I don’t think anyone felt we could get this far,” Newcomb said. “We never did even sit down and talk about making the state playoffs.”

Not everyone has been happy about L.A. Baptist’s run, however. “The girls’ basketball coaches don’t like it much,” Newcomb said.

Playing in the state tournament will keep Darcy Frazier, Lori Neville, Erika Koss, Jody Weston and Jodi Janzen from practicing with the basketball team.

David Coulson and staff writers Steve Elling, Jeff Fletcher, Vince Kowalick, Paige A. Leech, John Ortega and Jason H. Reid contributed to this notebook.