CHATTER: MOORPARK LOSES APPEAL OF FORFEIT.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The Moorpark College football team will forfeit its Oct. 27 victory against rival Ventura for using an ineligible player after the school's appeal of Western State Conference commissioner Aviva Kamin's decision was denied Tuesday night.

Moorpark athletic director John Keever said Moorpark would not make a second appeal to the state Commission on Athletics.

As a result, Moorpark's 40-0 victory over Ventura will go in the books as a 4-0 forfeit. The player in question was reserve defensive back Jason Spratt, who participated in fewer than 10 plays in the game one week after being ejected from the Raiders' loss to Harbor.

``People have to understand, we were in no way trying to get away with something,'' Moorpark coach Jim Bittner said.

Bittner said he never received a game report from either the officials or Harbor's athletic director concerning Spratt's ejection. Conference rules stipulate ejected players must be suspended from their team's next game.

The forfeit clinches the WSC title for College of the Canyons, which will play at Moorpark (4-5, 2-2) on Saturday night.

When Calabasas High lost junior varsity basketball coach Ernie Wallengrin to Lou Gehrig's disease this year, the school and its surrounding community pledged to do something to help find a cure.

And, in the process, honor a special person.

On Saturday, Wallengrin's family of friends put their money - and time - where their hearts were, raising more than $18,000 in his honor during a day of basketball, fund-raising and remembering.

``I am truly at a loss for words, it was just an awesome, awesome day,'' said Calabasas varsity coach Russell White, who helped coordinate Saturday's event. ``The community spoke up loud and clear, and it just shows how much love there is for Ernie.''

Wallengrin was 50 when he passed away after a three-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's disease. His death touched countless people throughout the region, many of whom played for Wallengrin over the years either on one of his club travel teams or the Calabasas junior varsity.

``Everybody knew him,'' White said. ``He had a ton of friends.''

It seems like all of them showed up Saturday. More that 120 basketball players formed 18 teams for a full day of pick-up games, all of which were officiated by referees in the region.

``They donated their time and worked for free,'' White said of the officials.

Part of the $18,000 was raised through a silent auction, some came via food sales and donations.

``I'd say more than a thousand people came through our gym at one point or another, some to play in a game, and some just to say hi and drop off a check,'' White said.

White already is looking forward to next year's event.

Cleveland of Reseda's thin football team got a whole lot thinner when running back Julius Killings and fullback Kenny Niaki went down with foot injuries.

On some teams, losing two players is no big deal. But for Cleveland, it's huge. The Cavaliers had just 20 players on their roster when Killings and Niaki went down.

Joey Morales and Eliseo Yniguez have replaced Killings and Niaki, respectively. Cleveland ends its season Friday against Birmingham of Lake Balboa. ...

Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks will have an event for three female athletes who are signing letters of intent this morning. Cori Blanton!off will signed with Rutgers for softball, Stephanie Butler will sign with Georgia Tech for softball and Mayumi Kobayashi has signed with Wisconsin for golf. Information: [phone].

Staff Writers Vincent Bonsignore and Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.