CHATTER: CRESPI SOPHOMORE ALL-AMERICAN.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Crespi High of Encino swimmer Patrick Simpkins has been named a first team All-American for the 2003-04 season. He was one of just three sophomores to earn the honor from the National International Swimming Coaches Association.

Simpkins was recognized for his time of 51.80 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly, which broke the school frosh/soph record.

He also competed in the Junior Nationals this summer, where he finished sixth in the 200-meter butterfly (2:05.94) to qualify for the U.S. Open in December. ...

Simi Valley baseball player Ben Orloff committed to UC Irvine. The shortstop, who is entering his fourth varsity season, batted .283 as a junior to help the Pioneers win their first Southern Section championship. ...

Glendale College punter/placekicker Evgenity Mameev earned Western State Conference football offensive Player of the Week honors. The freshman from Glendale High punted five times for a 40.2-yard average in addition to kicking three field goals, including a game-winning 32-yarder with 2:10 remaining in a 17-15 victory Saturday over West L.A. He also added a touchdown saving tackle on the opening kickoff.

Glendale lineman Fred Gamble, Moorpark linebacker Rusty Worthen and Pierce linebacker Alain Karetepeyan shared the conference's Defensive Player of the Week award. ...

Agoura junior Danny Polyakov was named MVP of the Buena boys' water polo tournament after scoring 15 goals in the Chargers' four games. He had three goals, two assists and two steals in the final Saturday against Marmonte League rival Thousand Oaks.

The play of Polyakov and others such as goalkeeper Ryan Paris have helped Agoura to a 6-3 start and No. 6 ranking in Div. IV despite having only three seniors and one returning starter. No amount of success, however, is enough to feel comfortable in a league such as the Marmonte, in which five of the eight teams are in the division's top-10.

Agoura starts a streak of five consecutive days of games by playing at defending Marmonte champion Newbury Park today. The Chargers have a rematch with Thousand Oaks on Wednesday before heading to the San Luis Obispo tournament. ...

The top-two ranked teams in Div. III boys' water polo meet today when No. 1 La Canada plays at No. 2 Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach. The last time the division's top two teams met, then-No. 2 La Canada upset Montebello two weeks ago to take over the top spot. ...

Two local products - Jason Kubel (Highland of Palmdale) and Delmon Young (Camarillo) - were among those honored in the recently released Topps Minor League Players of the Month for August. Kubel was the Triple-A International League honoree for hitting .340 with nine home runs and 29 RBI before being called up to the Minnesota Twins the end of the month. Young was the Single-A South Atlantic League honoree for batting .437 with nine home runs and 27 RBI in the final month of his first professional season. ...

If Baseball America's selections of top 20 prospects in each league are an indication of things to come, look for more locals to steal the spotlight.

Crespi graduate Trevor Plouffe, a first-round draft pick of the Twins in June, was ranked No. 6 in the rookie-level Appalachian League. Westlake product Mike Nickeas was No. 19 in the Single-A Northwest League, and left-hander Dana Eveland from Palmdale and College of the Canyons is 20th in the Single-A Midwest League.

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

JIMMY CLAUSEN

Sophomore

Oaks Christian of Westlake Village

Steve Clarkson, the president of Air 7 football camp and private quarterback coach for all of the Clausen brothers, said before Jimmy Clausen took a varsity snap that he had the potential to be the best of them. That's saying something, given that Casey started four years at Tennessee and Ricky is on scholarship there. But Jimmy is beginning to show what Clarkson meant. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 297 yards and six touchdowns Friday in working little more than one half against Southern Section Div. II school Burbank. Four of those touchdown passes were in the first quarter.

SHANNON MURAKAMI

Sophomore

Saugus High

The Centurions' top runner isn't looking to ease off the gas pedal anytime soon. Murakami won the girls' race at the first Foothill League meet of the season - and the first at Central Park in Saugus - and continued to show she's the one to beat in league contests. Murakami was familiar with the terrain, and her time on the new course (18 minutes, 35 seconds) set the course record. She also was a winner in the girls' sophomore race at the Seaside Invitational this month. Look for her next week at the Clovis Invitational in Fresno.

UP AND COMER

DARIUS MOORE

5-11, eighth-grader

Sutter Middle School, Winnetka

A talented basketball/football player likely headed to Cleveland High of Reseda, Moore is a tight end/safety with the Reseda Buccaneers youth football team, using his size, strength and athletic ability to dominate opponents. Equally adept at basketball, he plays power forward with the Winnetka T-Wolves, showing a flair for scoring, rebounding and defense.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, 4 boxes

Photo:

(1) SHANNON MURAKAMI

(2) JIMMY CLAUSEN

(3) DARIUS MOORE

Box:

(1) ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (see text)

(2) UP AND COMER (see text)

(3) STATILICIOUS

(4) ON DECK: Highlights of the coming week