WATER POLO

Ventura club places 14th in nationals

The first-year Ventura Water Polo Club finished 14th in a field of 48 teams in the 18-and-under U.S. National Junior Olympics on July 25-29 in Irvine.

Ventura qualified seventh from the California Coastal Zone, stretching from greater Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo.

"It's a huge zone to compete in with a lot of talent," club director Matt Cherrie said. "We qualified seventh in the zone and at Junior Olympics we moved up to fourth in the zone standings."

The Ventura team features all Ventura High athletes. The players are Joshua Frankhauser, Chris Bishop, Eric Eulau, Eric Birdsall, Clint Howard, Spencer Lewis, Spencer McGrath, Devin Mefford, Matthew Ryan, Richard Taylor, Sam Walters, Pierce Frawley, Lucas Souza, Joshua Tice and Cole Swaffar.

However, the Ventura organization is considering tryouts next year and inviting players from around the area to join.

Cherrie said Ventura was close to finishing in the top 10.

Ventura was coached by Adam Payan over the winter and spring, and the last two months by Adam Cherrie.

Nine of the 15 players could have played in the 16-and-under division, but played up in the 18-and-under division.

"I think one of the most important lessons I want our players to take past the game is that our culture is one that rewards competitors," Matt Cherrie said. "It is important to always look for ways to better yourself, not to rest on your past accomplishments, talents, or entitlements or whatever ... every day you take off, get sick, or go half-speed, someone else is passing you. Making excuses for yourself really limits your ability to grow and improve."

Matt Cherrie also said a girls' water polo club team is scheduled to begin this fall and encourages all high school students from Ventura County to attend tryouts.

Information: Matt Cherrie at 641-5116, ext. 2270 or http://www.venturawpc.org.

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK

Spencer hired as St. Bonaventure coach

Tracy Spencer has been named as the track coach at St. Bonaventure High.

Spencer replaces Kevin Sherry, who retired after leading St. Bonaventure to a runner-up finish at the 2008 CIF Division IV boys' track and field final. St. Bonaventure also tied for second in 2005.

For the past four seasons, Spencer was the head track coach at Agoura. Spencer has been an assistant at La Reina and Oak Park.

YOUTH BASEBALL

Ocean View registering players for fall ball league

The Ocean View PONY Baseball League will host a fall ball league with registration today and Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ocean View Junior High. Registration will also be held Aug. 20 and 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Rusty's Pizza at 606 N. Ventura, Road.

All teams are welcome. The league runs from Sunday, Sept. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 16.

Information: http://www.ovpb.org.

BOWLING

Simi Valley's Bidwell ends busy summer

Simi Valley's Devin Bidwell can relax after a 45-day whirlwind experience.

Bidwell started his summer at Buena Lanes with a fourth-place finish in the Firecracker Tournament.

He was sixth in the Junior World Team Challenge in Las Vegas.

In Detroit at the Junior Gold Championships, with more than 1,000 junior boys participating, Bidwell qualified 10th in 18 games and finish 32nd for the tournament. Also in Detroit at the Youth Championships, Bidwell finish sixth in a field of more than 500 bowlers and placed 13th in all-events.

Bidwell headed back to Las Vegas for the JBT finals where he finished 16th. Then in Hawaii for the Aiea Singles Championships, Bidwell finished third.

He wrapped up his summer schedule with an eighth in the JBT Las Vegas Open at the Orleans, finishing eighth.

Bidwell is a 2007 Royal High graduate.

BASKETBALL

Heat Jam tournaments scheduled for fall

The Heat Jam tournaments will be held for all boys' and girls' divisions for $300 per team on Sept. 20-21, Oct. 11-12 or 18-19 and Nov. 8-9 at Oxnard's Pacifica High. There's a three-game guarantee for each tournament.

Information: James White at 509-9294.