CHATTER: SMOKY CONDITIONS LEAVE VALENCIA-CANYON GAME UP IN AIR.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Valencia High football coach Brian Stiman took a peek out his window Wednesday afternoon and looked up at a dark sky.

``It's not much difference right now than it was this morning when they canceled school,'' Stiman said.

The point was clear: Due to the fire burning in the Santa Clarita area, it's uncertain whether tonight's Valencia-Saugus football game at College of the Canyons will be played at 7:30 p.m.

``If it keeps up like this it's pretty iffy,'' Stiman said. ``Obviously we want to play, but there are much more important things going on right now than football.''

Valencia, like the other schools in the Santa Clarita Valley, canceled classes Wednesday, meaning the Vikings were unable to practice.

``With the way things are, it probably wouldn't be very wise for us to be out there running around,'' Stiman said.

If the game is played, the Vikings and Centurions will do so without the benefit of practice the day before a game. If the game is on, Stiman likely will put his team through a light practice this afternoon.

``It's sort of like the playoffs during Thanksgiving week when we practice from Monday through Wednesday, then not practice all on Thursday, then go play a game on Friday,'' Stiman said. ``We'll do a walk-through at some point (this afternoon) and go over the stuff we would have covered (Wednesday). Hopefully this won't set us back too much.''

If the game is postponed - Stiman said he expects word by this morning - the teams will figure out a makeup date. ...

The City Section cross country meet at Griffith Park today was canceled because of the unhealthy air created by the various wildfires in the area. No makeup date is planned. ...

Former Camarillo High baseball standout Delmon Young, the first overall pick in last June's amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, is up to his usual tricks in the Arizona Fall League.

Young is off to a sizzling start with the Mesa Solar Sox, getting 11 hits in his first 19 at-bats, including two ground-rule doubles in his first game. He hit his first home run Tuesday against the Peoria Saguaros.

Young, who was 3 for 5 in that game, now has three RBI, three doubles, one triple, one home run and a stolen base.

Young's success against some of the top prospects in baseball has him thinking about reaching the major leagues sooner rather than later. Young told Baseball America he is looking at getting to the big leagues next season. ...

It's not often the Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks girls' volleyball team plays meaningful matches in November, but things have changed for the Knights this year under first-year coach Shannon Tuttle.

When Notre Dame plays Nov. 6 at Flintridge Sacred Heart, the Mission League championship could be on the line.

For Tuttle and the Knights, the pressure is welcomed. Good teams want to play in important matches.

Still, the differences between this year and the past are dramatic.

``When it's gotten down to this part of the year in the past, the girls were playing loose and free because nothing was on the line,'' Tuttle said. ``But now you can sense the pressure, and that can affect your nerves.''

How the Knights handle the heat will go a long way in determining how they'll play the rest of the way.

``What I've tried to stress to them is that the next few matches are no different than the first few matches we played, every match is important,'' Tuttle said. ``The key is, all we have to do is have fun and take care of business. There is no need to get caught up in all the pressure.'' ...

College of the Canyons running back Marcus Crawford (Newbury Park High) has been offered a scholarship by Colorado State. He has rushed for 628 yards and eight touchdowns in seven games.

Staff Writer Gerry Gittelson contributed to this report.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com