Chatsworth’s Cassel Commits to USC

Matt Cassel, an All-City Section junior quarterback for Chatsworth High, has verbally committed to attend USC in 2000.

Cassel, also a top baseball player, passed for 2,890 yards and 26 touchdowns in leading the Chancellors to the Division championship last season.

The 6-foot-4 Cassel will fill an important recruiting spot for the Trojans. USC failed to sign any quarterbacks this year, making Cassel the Trojans’ main quarterback recruit next year and a possible successor to Carson Palmer.

“I just thought the situation was right and I took it,” Cassel said after Trojan Coach Paul Hackett offered him a scholarship.

Adam Fabela of Littlerock, Bun Kaing of Reseda, K.C. Bounds of Taft and Brakkton Booker of Sylmar have been awarded $500 scholarships from the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

SOFTBALL

Mackenzie Vandergeest of La Reina High returned to practice Monday, nine days after injuring her back in a car accident on Feb. 27.

The car Vandergeest was driving was hit broadside on the driver’s side. Vandergeest sustained minor injuries to her shoulder and back.

BASEBALL

John Voita, the starting shortstop at El Camino Real, has been sidelined indefinitely after chipping a bone in his shoulder last week in the Conquistadores’ season opener against North Hollywood.

The Conquistadores may soon get back all-West Valley League infielder Conor Jackson, who had a cast removed from his wrist. Jackson suffered a broken wrist in a snowboarding accident two months ago.

Cal State Northridge (14-13) completed a three-game road sweep of San Francisco on Sunday with an 11-6 victory. Freshman Tim Arroyo had three hits and three runs batted in and Danny Phillips hit his 12th home run.

Hart pitcher Jamie Shields is expected to make his season debut today against visiting Newbury Park. Shields, one of the region’s top returning pitchers, didn’t pitch last week because of bursitis in his shoulder, Coach Bud Murray said.

BASKETBALL

LaTricia Fleming of Canyon High and Briana Kentfield of Hart have been selected co-players of the year in the Foothill League.

Devin Montgomery of Alemany and Scott Borchart of Chaminade have been selected co-players of the year in the Mission League.

The American Roundball Corporation Instructional Basketball Academy is holding registration for boys and girls in first through eighth grades on Saturday at 9 a.m. at North Hollywood High and at 1 p.m. at Pierce College. Information: (818) 995-3761.