Beloved Volleyball Coach Quiroz Dies

Jess Quiroz, a beloved volleyball coach who won a section title at Campbell Hall this past season following a decorated 20-year stint at Harvard-Westlake, died Monday from kidney failure. He was 59.

“He had many accolades as a coach, but as good a coach as Jess Quiroz was, he was even better as a person,” Campbell Hall basketball coach Steve Wachs said. “I think his family knew, but Jess was very private about his health. I took a walk with him Monday morning, and he died Monday evening, so it was certainly a shock to us all.

"He was beloved, and a lot of the kids have had a a hard time dealing with it.”

A campus memorial service is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m.

“He was also the junior high PE teacher and junior high advisor,” athletic director Juan Velazquez said. “He was well-placed in the community and a big part of our school.”

Quiroz is survived by his wife, Kathy, and one daughter, one son and one grandson.

BATTER UP

It looks like it’s going to be a great season for Campbell Hall’s baseball team. The Vikings are 5-1 heading into an Alpha League opener today (Friday) against visiting Crossroads (4-2) of Santa Monica, and they’re averaging 12 runs following a 16-2 win Wednesday over Village Christian of Sun Valley.

In the victory over Village Christian, there were major league scouts present to observe catcher Adam Ehrlich, who went 3 for 3 with two home runs and eight RBIs – one shy of Tyler Johnson’s 2009 school record. Ehrlich is batting .684 with three home runs, 14 RBIs and a 1.368 slugging percentage in 27 at-bats.

“Adam Ehrlich is the real deal,” coach Velazquez said.

Campbell Hall plans to send ace Jake Bensinger to pitch today (Friday). He is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA.

Crossroads has moved up to the Alpha League after finishing as a Division VI semifinalist last year.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE COMING ALONG FINE

Harvard-Westlake’s baseball team is also performing well. The Wolverines are 5-2, including four shutouts, heading into the Redondo tournament beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. with a game against Artesia.

Harvard-Westlake swept Malibu 12-0, 12-0 in a doubleheader Wednesday. In the opener, UCLA-bound junior Lucas Giolito pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts, and in the nightcap freshman Jack Flaherty pitched four innings in a combined no-hitter.

PYRAMID OF SUCCESS STARTS HERE

Seven Southern California basketball players are being honored as John R. Wooden Player of  the Year award winners, and two of them are from the area – Harvard-Westlake’s Damiene Cain in Division III, and Valley Torah’s Aaron Lieberman in Division VI.

The players are scheduled to be honored April 8 at the 35^th Wooden Award Gala at the L.A. Downtown Athletic Club.

POLITICIAN'S DAUGHTER MAKES HER PITCH

North Hollywood softball pitcher Danielle Feuer, daughter of California assemblyman Michael Feuer, struck out 17 on Wednesday in a 5-0 win over Monroe of North Hills. The daughter is among the top performers in the East Valley League, and she has won several academic awards.

NOHO GOLF TEES IT UP

North Hollywood’s boys golf team is 3-0, and Khorri Ellis shot a one-over 37 on Wednesday in a win over Northridge Academy at Woodley Lakes.

“He can do better. He’s been to the state finals three straight years, and he’s getting back to where he was,” coach Steve Miller said.

Ellis was two-over in a preceding match against Cleveland of Reseda.