The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 322

LOS ANGELES TIMES CIO FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1991 South Bay Sports Clayton Samples Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous nrmnfaatlnn that have inroressed a lot of with organization that have impressed a lot of i Baseball: Former St. people. "They said, 'Get a look at I don't want to get a look at him wearing a uniform. I want to see him play. That way I can get an idea of what he looks like." Clayton gave up a baseball scholarship to USC to sign a.contract with the Giants because he thought it would be a faster route to the majors.

This season Clayton batted .280 with five home runs, 68 runs batted in and 29 errors. He walked 61 times, stole 36 bases and had 102 strikeouts. Clayton appears to be the Giant shortstop of the future, but the front office didn't want to rush him through the farm system. The Giants made that mistake when they tried to promote catcher Steve Decker from the double-A level to a starting job this season. According to published reports, Rosen told reporters that he didn't want Clayton to feel pressure when he arrived with the club.

"I don't want reporters to read into this. I don't know how much he'll play. Don't expect to see his name in the lineup tomorrow. We just want to Please see CLAYTON, Cll "No one was there," he said. "I ran out back and celebrated with the dogs.

I paced up and down saying to myself, 'I'm going to the show, I'm going to the The Giants don't have to worry about Clayton dogging it on the field when they start a three-game series today against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. "I'm going to do everything I can not to go back to the minor leagues," Clayton said. "I understand what other players mean. Once you get a taste of the majors, you'll never want to go back. Now that I've been here, I have more incentive to work harder." Clayton last played at Dodger Stadium for St.

Bernard in the 1987 Southern Section 1-A Division championship game. The Vikings lost to Whittier Christian, 8-6, but Clayton knew he would return. The biggest question was when. Despite indifference from the Giant front office, Manager Roger Craig couldn't wait to see Clayton play. "We've heard so much about this kid," Craig told the San Francisco Chronicle.

"He's done a lot of things in this He heard the voice of Giant President and General Manager Al Rosen. "Royce we're recalling your contract and we want you to meet us in San Diego. Please call us immediately so we make travel arrangements." Clayton, 21, said he had been dreaming about this moment since the Giants made him their top selection in the 1988 draft. And on Sept. 19 his dream became reality.

"I played the message back four or five times," Clayton said. "I have a lot of friends who like to play practical jokes. Not me, but a couple of my friends used to call and impersonate scouts. One guy told my best friend that he was drafted by the Cubs and he bought it. That was cold, real cold." But the Giants weren't going to keep Clayton waiting any longer.

The most talked-about player on sports call-in shows in San Francisco was going to make his major league debut in San Diego. Clayton called and finally reached Rosen at Candlestick Park. "I wasn't in shock," Clayton said. "I just couldn't believe it." But Clayton had no one to celebrate Bernard High shortstop gets red-carpet treatment during first week with Giants. By SEAN WATERS TIMES STAFF WRITER Shortstop Royce Clayton never imagined he would be home alone when the news came about his promotion.

Despite being selected as the top prospect in the minor leagues this season by The Sporting News, the former St. Bernard High standout was convinced he would have to wait another season before the San Francisco Giants would promote him. Clayton, who had a stellar season at double-A Shreveport, had returned to his parents' Inglewood home after his fourth season in the minors. He thought his 1991 season had ended with the Captains winning the Texas League championship. Then the news came.

Clayton had just walked through the door and rushed to check the answering Royce Clayton's return engagement to Dodger Stadium will begin tonight. SPORTSCOPE Redondo-Mira Costa Classic Has Top Teams Taft High Is No Match for Banning Football: In rare home night game, Pilots score early and often in 27-0 victory. tie with Division I opponent San Diego State last week. Freshman forward Staci Blough scored the Toros' goal. Blough is second in scoring with four goals and eight points.

Junior forward Amy Rubin leads the Toros with four goals and two assists and her twin sister, Anna, has two goals and two assists. Twelve of the top girls' prep volleyball teams in Southern California will compete in the Redondo-Mira Costa Power Classic today and Saturday at Redondo High. Mira Costa, ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section '5-A Division, tops a field that includes No. 4-ranked St.

Joseph of Lakewood, No. 6 Corona del Mar, No. 7 Long Beach Poly and No. 10 Newport Harbor. Rounding out the entries are Redondo, Santa Monica, South Torrance, Bishop Montgomery, Peninsula, El Modena and Torrey Pines from the San Diego Section.

Pool play begins today at 3 p.m. and resumes at 8 a.m. Saturday. By STEVE ELLING TIMF.S STAFF WRI TFR It has been years since Banning High played a game at its campus facility. In light of the team's popularity in the football -happy Wilmington community, games have been moved to larger stadiums to accommodate the large and manic crowds that the Pilots draw.

Thursday night, Banning played its first home game since the mid-1980s, and the home cooking tasted just fine. The Pilots rolled over Taft, 27-0, in a nonleague game. Banning stayed home largely because of budget cutbacks in the L.A. Unified School District. The school could save money on stadium and bus rental by playing at home.

There was no adjustment period: the Pilots slammed into Taft like a runaway bus. If this was a Banning (3-0) homecoming game of sorts, then there were plenty of nominees for king. Quarterback Vaimagalo Faavi-Tua'au rushed for 77 yards in 12 carries and running backs Larry Rayford (91 yards in 17), Shayzar Hawkins (70 in 12), Brandon Moore (46 in eight) and Chris Smith (18 in two) led the option Please see BANNING, Cll The Loyola Marymount women's volleyball team will open West Coast Conference play against Santa Clara tonight and the University of San Diego on Saturday at Gersten Pavilion. Both matches start at 7 p.m. The Lions (8-6) lost to Cal State Northridge in four games Tuesday in Westchester.

Santa Clara is 8-5 and San Diego is 8-6. Loyola was picked to finish second in the WCC, San Diego fourth and Santa Clara fifth in a preseason poll of conference coaches. The Lions have been led by junior outside hitter Joli Eberhart, who was named conference player of the week for the second week in a row. Eberhart leads the team in kills with 200, including 13 in the loss to Northridge. Sophomore outside hitter Dean-na Doolittle is second in kills and digs and freshman setter Robin Ortgiesen leads in assists.

Please see SCOPE, Cll The Cal State Dominguez Hills women's soccer team travels to play Northern Colorado and Denver this weekend. The Toros (4-1-1), ranked No. 5 in NCAA Division II, visit Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon in Greeley and Denver on Sunday afternoon. Neither opponent is listed in the Division II rankings, although Northern Colorado has been a traditional Division Hpower. Dominguez Hills' 11-game un- beaten streak ended in a 2-1 loss to UC Davis (0-4-1) on Wednesday.

It also was the first time in 22 1 games that Dominguez Hills lost to a non-Division I team. The Toros also battled to a 1-1 BHIANGADI3KIIY Los Angeles Times Tyler Tuione (6-foot-4, 330 pounds) and brother Jared (6-5, 305) anchor Harbor's offensive line. Mass Destruction Brothers Create a Weighty Problem for Harbor Foes COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL SATURDAY'S TOP GAMES Casillas says the Tuiones were the biggest players he coached at Hawthorne. "They're both big, strong kids and they're very smart players," Casillas said. "We always used to say that defensive linemen are the barroom brawler types and offensive linemen are the guys that go to work in three-piece suits with a briefcase in their hand.

Both Jared and Tyler fit into that well." Tyler played only two years of high school football because he decided to seek employment. He was an All-Ocean League selection in 1987, when the Cougars won the league title and made it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs. He also threw the shotput and wrestled. "He was the leader on our offensive line that year," By IRENE GARCIA TIMFS STAFF WRIIFR Tyler and Jared Tuione are closer than most brothers. And bigger too.

Tyler is 6 foot 4 and 330 pounds and Jared is 6-5 and 305 pounds. They eat together, study together and play side by side on Harbor College's offensive line. Jared, 18, starts at right tackle and Tyler, 21, starts at right guard. Although Jared could have gone elsewhere, he chose to attend Harbor in order to play with Tyler, a sophomore this year. It wasn't an easy decision for Jared, who was a Times 1990 South Bay All-Star selection, but playing with his big brother was too important.

After all, Tyler has been influential in Jared's development as a lineman. Tyler, a standout prep lineman, taught Jared the fundamentals of playing the position. Tyler continued to advise Jared through Hawthorne High and last year persuaded him to attend Harbor. "He recruited me to come here," Jared said pointing to his brother. "I know that's why I'm here." At the end of last season Jared was recruited by several Division I colleges, including Brigham Young, Washington and Oregon.

But he failed to score 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and decided to attend a community college. "He was one of the top offensive linemen in the area," said El Camino College Coach John Featherstone, who tried to recruit Jared. "There's no question about it, he's a Division I player. He's got a ton of ability." Jared played three years of varsity football at Hawthorne and was twice an All-Bay League selection. He was the team's most valuable player last year 'Tyler just needs experience.

He's had to re-learn a lot of the fundamentals. He's an excellent pass blocker and he's real agile for a man his JERRY AGUILAR Harbor offensive coordinator Gardena May Be Awarded a Forfeit The Taft High football team plans to forfeit its 34-20 victory over Gardena on Friday because ineligible players participated in the game, Taft Coach Larry Stewart told the Daily News this week. The forfeit won't become official until the City Section rules' on it, but Taft is preparing a report on the violation, Stewart said. Gardena Coach Mike Sakurai said he was informed of the Daily News article Wednesday but had not been notified by Taft as of Thursday afternoon. Gardena dropped to 1-1 with the loss at Taft in Woodland Hills.

The Mohicans play host to San Fernando at 7:30 tonight. "I haven't found out anything," Sakurai said. "As far as I'm concerned, we're still 1-1. 1 don't know what's going to happen. It would be nice to be 2-0, but we're just going to wait and see what happens." Stewart told the Daily News the problem stems from Taft players reporting inaccurate summer school grades.

The mistake was caught when official grades came out Monday, Stewart said. Stewart declined to identify the players, but he said sophomore running back Derrell Patton, Who rushed for 172 yards against Gardena, would be held out of Thursday night's game at Banning. ROBFERljlAS EL CAMINO COLLEGE (1-1) vs. SADDLEBACK COLLEGE (1-0) 7 p.m. at Saddleback After last week's 50-7 victory over Ventura, El Camino appears to be ready for its Mission Conference opener against a tough Saddleback team that defeated Santa Monica City College, 30-14, last week.

The Warriors are ranked No. 18 in the state by the Junior College Athletic Bureau. Freshman quarterback Jerry Singleton has completed 14 of 22 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Tailback Mark Harper has rushed for four touchdowns and 177 yards in 35 carries. Saddleback is ranked 13th in the state.

The Gauchos prefer to throw the ball. Freshman quarterback Tim Snowden completed 12 of 17 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns in the opener. Tailback Matt Carvalho rushed for 69 yards. But Saddleback's strength appears to be its defense, with nine players returning from last season's squad. Linebacker Todd Normand had 12 tackles against Santa Monica.

"I think this is their best team since 1986," El Camino Coach John Featherstone said. "We saw them on film and they look real solid. This is going to be a true test for us." With Featherstone as coach, El Camino is 3-2 against Saddleback. Last year the Warriors beat Saddleback, 31-24, at Murdock Stadium in Torrance. "Their speed presents a unique problem," Saddleback Coach Ken Swearingen said.

"Trying to contain it will be tough." HARBOR COLLEGE (0-1) VS. L.A. SOUTHWEST COLLEGE (0-1) 1 p.m. at L.A. Southwest This will be the Western State Conference opener for the cross-town rivals.

Last week Harbor lost, 16-15, to East L.A. College. Harbor freshman quarterback Steve Young passed for 137 yards and running back T. J. Palaita rushed for 72 yards in 14 carries.

Southwest lost, 36-29, to Citrus College on the road. Southwest quarterback Jessie Wallace completed four of eight passes for 131 yards and a touchdown and tailback William Jerrett rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns. This appears to be an evenly matched game, with both teams possessing untested quarterbacks. "We're ready and so are they," Harbor Coach Don Weems said. "This game is a neighborhood game so you can expect a good effort on both, parts." Harbor beat Southwest, 21-7, last season at Harbor.

"It's good to play at home," Southwest Coach Henry Washington said. "There's no place like home. Any time we play a team like Harbor we get fired up. A lot of our kids went to high school in that area." -IRENE GARCIA Cctsilltis sdid Tyler took two years off before returning to football last year and moving to guard. A former high school coach who was serving as an assistant at Harbor suggested he try out for.

the team. "After being off for two years it was rough getting back into it," Tyler said. "I like being a guard better because there's more man-to-man contact." Harbor offensive coordinator Jerry Aguilar says Tyler has improved steadily from last season. "He just needs experience," Aguilar said. "He's had to re-learn a lot of the fundamentals.

He's an excellent pass blocker and he's real agile for a man his size." Aguilar said Jared is Harbor's prize recruit. "He's the kind of player big college football programs strive to get," he said. "He has so much natural ability and he can do so many things. He'll be a big-time player. He'll be a star." The brothers say they motivate each other.

They often discuss football at home and exchange advice on technique. They viewed film of last week's season opening 16-15 loss to East L.A. College more than six times. "We push each other," Tyler said. We keep each other going and we help one another stay aggressive Please see BROTHEHg, Cll 'Jared was one of the top offensive linemen in the area.

There's no question about it, he's a Division I player. He's got a ton of JOHN FEATHERSTONE Camno College coach and an All-CIF selection. "He's the best offensive lineman I've ever coached, former Hawthorne coach Goy Casillas said. ''He's very mobile. He moves his real well.".