ATHLETES MUST DECIDE, MAKE COMMITMENT.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

Today is national signing day for high school athletes to officially commit to Division I college scholarships - and it's a disappointing time at Valencia High. No player from this year's football team has an offer, which is bewildering, because the team was 12-2 and advanced to the Southern Section Div. II final.

An obvious snub is Shane Morales. The 6-foot-2, three-year standout finished as Valencia's all-time leading receiver, and he's also a talented defensive back. He's the total package - size, speed, talent, experience, grades, citizenship - but he doesn't have a deal.

For a time, Morales received interest from Nevada, UNLV and Northern Arizona, but nothing developed.

Coaches from Cal Poly, a Division I-AA college, have invited Morales to walk on.

Teammate Torrey O'Brien, a tough linebacker but is a long shot because he's about 5-foot-11, also received some early interest but has nothing solid.

``Honestly, I'm kind of disappointed at what's happened; I think Shane and Torrey both should be playing at the next level,'' said Valencia head coach Brian Stiman, who retired last month but continues to promote his players to colleges. ``We finished 14th in the state this year, so obviously we've got some great players. Shane put up great numbers against some of the toughest competition in California. I'm not sure what else he could have done.

``I guess colleges are looking for kids who can run, jump and lift weights. But they're not putting enough value on being a great football player.''

Greg Biggins, recruiting coordinator at Student Sports, is equally puzzled about Morales.

``I don't know what's happened with Shane; I think the kid can play,'' Biggins said. ``For some reason, people just aren't going for him. But he's got good size, good speed, and he can catch. What more do you need?''

Morales' father, Kirk, thinks his son has been caught in a numbers crunch. Of the universities originally interested, most didn't have many scholarships available for a safety, Morales' natural position.

``It's really hard to figure out,'' he said. ``These scholarships are very hard to get.''

But the elder Morales believes a chance to play at Cal Poly, even as a walk-on, is a nice reward.

``Shane is going there for a visit on Feb. 18, and we'll probably take it because usually you have to have a 4.2 grade-point average to go to Cal Poly,'' he said. ``It's a great school.''

Said Stiman: ``If Cal Poly gets Shane Morales as a walk-on, that's a steal.''

So far, the only Santa Clarita-area football players to commit to four- year universities are receiver Ryan Wolfe and offensive lineman Zac Zimmerman from Hart. Wolfe is going to UNLV and Zimmerman is headed to Utah State.

--Another talented area player who isn't signing today is Hart's Evan Surratt, a fast 6-2 receiver. Surratt has been offered by Division I-AA New Hampshire and probably will accept after an official visit this weekend.

``Hopefully, it will work out if Evan likes it there and doesn't mind going to the East Coast,'' Hart coach Mike Herrington said.

--An intriguing young baseball prospect has arrived in Santa Clarita: Cade Kreuter, the 13-year-old son of former major league veteran Chad Kreuter and the grandchild of USC coach Mike Gillespie.

Cade, an eighth-grader, is 6-foot-2 and exceptionally gifted. He can hit a baseball 375 feet, and his fastball has been clocked at 83 mph.

``He could probably start on any high school team right now,'' said Jim Wagner, a respected local youth coach who played college baseball at Cal State Northridge and Arizona in the 1980s. ``He's the real deal, and he's going to be a force. I've seen Cade play, and the kid is definitely legit.''

Chad Kreuter played 16 seasons in the majors, including three with the Dodgers and two with the Angels. The family recently moved here from La Quinta near Palm Springs, and Cade plans to attend West Ranch High.

``It's hard to predict what's going to happen without a crystal ball, but Cade has all the physical tools,'' Kreuter said. ``He's been hitting home runs on high school fields. He's pretty good but who knows what he's going to be like when he's 20 years old? He might be 6-4, but he might be 6-8 and playing basketball as a power forward. He's a basketball player, too.''

Enrolled at Rancho Pico Junior High, Cade has caught the eye of West Ranch baseball coach Casey Burrill - not surprising considering Rancho Pico students are grouped with West Ranch students on the same campus at the first-year school.

``We think he's going to be pretty good,'' Burrill said. ``He's already one of the biggest kids on campus. He's got great blood, and he's also a super nice kid. The future for him is very bright.''

--Another baseball player to watch for is Hart junior Tyler Lyon, a member of the varsity since his freshman season but just reaching his potential as a pitcher. Lyon has been throwing much harder in the winter season after going 4-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 43 2/3 innings as a sophomore.

Lyon, a 6-5 right-hander who passed for more than 3,000 yards as the quarterback for the football team this past season, joins returning standout left-hander Tyler Fick to give Hart perhaps the league's most intimidating pitching tandem. Fick, who has committed to Cal State Northridge, was 9-3 with a 2.19 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings last year. He could eventually be a major league draft choice in June if he has a similar performance this season.

--Eight Canyon High boys' and girls' soccer players have committed to four-year colleges, and they'll be signing at 10:15 a.m. today at a special campus ceremony. They are: Matt McManus (San Diego State), Mike Clegg (St. Mary's), Lauren McClelland (West Texas A&M), Nini Loucks (USC), Brianna Caceres (Arizona), Lauren Moniz (San Jose State), Shannon Omahen (Loyola Marymount) and Kellie Corbett (Pt. Loma Nazarene).