Mount Miguel High girls basketball coach Robbie Sandoval has guided his team to eight Grossmont South League championships in as many years at the helm. His teams have lost once in 75 league games during that stretch.
The Matadors helped Sandoval reach a coaching milestone when they defeated El Capitan 56-34 in the San Diego Section Division III semifinals last month. It was victory No. 200 for Sandoval, whose teams have averaged 25 wins per season.
Mount Miguel split two Southern California Regional games, leaving Sandoval's career mark at 201-45.
West Hills Little League
The late Brian Fitzgerald, who served eight seasons as District 41 Little League commissioner and eight as president of Santee American Little League, was honored along with the late Britt Edmundson during West Hills Little League's opening day ceremonies March 1.
“Brian loved kids and did everything he could to make their athletic experiences more exciting,” said Ron Burner, former West Hills High baseball coach and current El Capitan High football coach.
Burner worked with Fitzgerald to form the Santee Sports Council in 1996. The organization serves as an advocate for youth leagues.
A flag pole honoring the memory of Fitzgerald has been erected next to the snack bar at the league's fields off Mast Boulevard.
“Brian was the fairest guy I've ever been around,” Burner said. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for him.”
Edmundson, a multisport athlete at Santana High, was instrumental in erecting batting cages for West Hills Little League (formerly known as Santee American Little League). He was killed in an automobile accident in 2007.
A plaque honoring the memory of Edmundson has been installed next to the league's batting cages.
Dennis the menace
Oklahoma City University first baseman David Dennis, a Valhalla High alum, was named Sooner Athletic Conference baseball player of the week for Feb. 25-March 2. Dennis, a senior, smacked seven home runs and drove in 20 runs in six games.
Baseball prospects
RISE Magazine includes El Capitan High pitcher-outfielder Miles Reagan and Granite Hills High center fielder Brian Humphries in its top 50 national high school pro baseball prospects from the class of 2008. Reagan is ranked No. 39 and Humphries No. 44.
The next level
Rated among the country's elite high school tight ends by a number of scouting services, Helix High junior Levine Toilolo has accepted a scholarship offer to Stanford.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder had plenty of choices. Florida, Cal and Vanderbilt extended offers, and UCLA, Utah and Arizona State were expected to do likewise.
Academics and the offensive sets involving tight ends engineered by Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh were among the reasons Toilolo chose Stanford.
Other local athletes continuing their careers in college:
SOFTBALL: Mt. Carmel Ashley Romano (Cal Poly 2010); Scripps Ranch's Rachel Brown (Harvard).
BASEBALL: Christian's Bryan Mitchell (NAIA Masters); Coronado's Jake McMahon (Division II Sonoma State); Tri-City Christian's Daniel Giese (NAIA Biola).
GIRLS SOCCER: Fallbrook's Margaret Dupes (Cal State Fullerton).
GIRLS LACROSSE: Poway's Annessa Jamison (Cal).
