FOURTH ANNUAL AFLAC ALL-AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL CLASSIC

Nick Noonan (Francis Parker High SS) and Sequoyah Stonecipher (Mission Bay High CF) helped lead the West to a 9-8 victory over the East in the Fourth Annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium on August 12.

Noonan had two hits and walked, and Stonecipher added a single and scored a run before a crowd of 2,653.

"It was awesome," Noonan told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "Everyone showcased their talent real well. We all had seen everyone else here play many times before, so this was a time to go out and just have a lot of fun."

Stonecipher struck out in his first two at-bats before singling in the bottom half of the fifth inning. He later scored on a throwing error.

"I'm glad that I got that hit because I was striking out too much before that," Stonecipher said. "The whole game, I just wanted to get a hit."

"For an all-star game, it was better than a lot," said West coach Dennis Pugh, the former Mission Bay High coach now in his first year at Cal State San Marcos. "In certain situations, there was some confusion. But the kids on both sides played real hard. They also got along real well. It was just a good event."

PEPPERDINE PICKS UP FOUR BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Six-foot-seven forward Tyrone Shelley is one of three Crawford High players, along with 5-9 guard Tyler Tucker and 6-8 post Malcolm Thomas, who have accepted basketball scholarship offers from Pepperdine.

They will join USDHS grad Rico Tucker, who will transfer to Pepperdine in the fall from Minnesota. Rico Tucker, a 6-foot guard who is Tyler's brother, will have two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the upcoming season.

"I chose Pepperdine because I already had teammates going there," Shelley told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "With that kind of great opportunity to play as a freshman, I had to jump on it."

MCLEMORE, WALKER WALK ALL OVER CAGER COMPETITION

Scripps Ranch High forwards Gerald McLemore and Kenton Walker were key members of the Pump N Run Elite squad that captured the Adidas Super 64 tournament in Las Vegas with an impressive 86-80 victory over DC Assault.

Against DC Assault, which was led by 6-9 Oak Hills Academy All-American Mike Beasley, Walker hit all four shot attempts from the field, finishing with nine points, four rebounds, and three assists.

In fact, Pump N Run's string of ten straight victories over five days earned them an extra game, against Nike Main Event titlist Houston Hoops in a battle of shoe company champions at UNLV.

Walker scored nine points and helped limit Houston's top player, 6-foot-9 Gary Johnson, to 17 points in a 103-86 victory.
"Both Gerald (who scored four points against Houston) and I have become comfortable playing basketball at the highest level," said Walker, who has been with Pump N Run Elite for two years. "That can only help us when we play for our high school team."

HALL OF CHAMPIONS NAMES SAN DIEGO STARS OF THE MONTH

ALEX SCATTAREGGIA (Boys Volleyball, Rancho Bernardo High)

The Seaside Volleyball club setter, a senior in the fall, helped Seaside Black win the Boys 18 national championship at the 2006 USA Junior Olympics Boys Volleyball Championships in Minneapolis. Scattareggia earned All-American honors as a member of the all-tournament team. Seaside defeated a club from Santa Clarita to win the title.

LASHAWN JOHNSON (Girls Basketball, Mount Miguel High)

The 5-foot-9 guard-forward, a senior in the fall, led the Matadors to the best finish among San Diego schools in the 3A Division of the 20th Annual San Diego Classic at sites around San Diego. The 3A Division was the elite division for an event that is the largest high school women's basketball tournament in the nation with 376 teams. Mount Miguel was the runner-up after winning its pool and six games overall before falling to Diamond Ranch in the 3A Final. Johnson's balanced game in scoring, rebounding, and assists led the Matadors throughout the tournament.

PHILIP STABACK (Football, West Hills High)

Staback was named the South's Most Valuable Player after leading his team to a 20-19 comeback win over the North in the 16th Annual Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic at Mesa College. The West Hills quarterback, who will continue his football career in the fall at Whittier College, scored two touchdowns in the final minute of the game.

SEQUOYAH STONECIPHER (Baseball, Mission Bay High)

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting outfielder, a senior in the fall, was one of 38 high school juniors named to play in the Aflac All-American High School Classic played on Aug. 12 at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium. Stonecipher was an All-CIF first-team pick at Mission Bay last spring.

Read more of Rob Stone's articles in www.sdnews.com, www.maxpreps.com, www.vegaswise.com, www.ussailing.org, and Pro Cappers Weekly.