Cathedral Catholic High Athletic Director Dave Smola said the school decided to “go young” when hiring a boys basketball coach.

Young and successful.

Kevin Williamson, 23, was named to replace Demetrius Laffitte, who stepped down in preparation for moving to Italy with his family.

Williamson guided Kofa High of Yuma, Ariz., to a 21-11 record, the first time in the school's 50-year history the team won more than 19 games.

The Kings advanced to the state Division 5A-II Final Four, where they lost to the eventual champion. Along the way, Kofa knocked off the division's No. 2-ranked team.

It was the deepest into the state playoffs that a Yuma school had advanced in 101 years, said Williamson, who was in his first year of varsity coaching.

“I guess we'll see if I'm as good a coach as people think I am,” Williamson said with a laugh. “I know we play in one of the toughest conferences in San Diego, but I'm excited.”

Last season, the Dons were 19-10 overall and 9-3 in the City Conference's Western League.

Williamson was born in San Diego. He moved to Sedona, Ariz., with his family when he was 11.

“He brings something a little different,” Smola said. “He's enthusiastic and was very impressive.”

Baseball perfection

Senior left-hander Francisco Valdez of Mission Bay High pitched a perfect game against Clairemont a week ago, the 11th perfect game since the San Diego Section was formed in 1960.

Valdez, who said he had never gone deeper into a game with a no-hitter than four innings, didn't blow away the Chieftains with his 84 mph fastball in the 13-0 victory. He relied on his control to strike out seven and improve to 6-3.

Valdez benefited from a couple of nice defensive plays.

Mission Bay coach Greg Farrar said he made a late switch, moving third baseman Jesse Moore to short and shortstop Brian Sagun to second. Farrar had done that only once before.

In the top of the sixth, a Clairemont batter sent a high chopper over Valdez that Moore one-handed, throwing out the runner on a close play at first.

On another play, freshman third baseman Harvey Bersalona took a scorching two-hopper off his chest, grabbed the ball and tossed out the runner by less than a step.

In the top of the seventh, Valdez, who said he realized he had a no-hitter in the fifth when he looked at the scoreboard, went 3-0 to the first batter.

“I told myself I better strike this guy out,” said Valdez, 18. “I got two strikes and struck the guy out swinging. Thing is, that was ball four, but he swung at it.”

The next step

Local athletes continuing their careers in college:

FOOTBALL: Poway's Bobby Nelson, Cal Poly; Valhalla's David Castro, NAIA Dakota State; Madison's J.D. Albert, Massachusetts; Otay Ranch's Michael Azhocar, Division III Cal Lutheran; Eastlake's Alex Johnson, NAIA Benedictine; Mt. Carmel's Taylor Chapette, Division III Redlands; Mt. Carmel's Joey DeMartino, Fresno State.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: San Diego's Leticia Ridley, Division II Cal State San Bernardino; San Diego's Asha Gipson, Division III Pomona-Pitzer.

BOYS GOLF: Coronado's Dillon Hakes, Penn.

ROWING: Our Lady of Peace's Mallory Rush, Creighton.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Christian's Daniel Hazlett, NAIA San Diego Christian; La Costa Canyon's Shawn Hempsey, Air Force.

Staff writer Nicole Vargas contributed to this report.