CHATTER: TURNER TURNS MARYLAND'S FORTUNES AGAINST RUTGERS.

Chris Turner, a 2005 graduate of Chaminade of West Hills and a backup quarterback at the University of Maryland, rose to the challenge last weekend, replacing the Terrapins' injured starter and lifting his team to a 34-24 victory at then-No. 10 Rutgers.

Turner, a 20-year old sophomore, took over at the end of the first half after Jordan Steffy left with a concussion.

Turner went on to complete 14 of 20 passes for 149 yards. His biggest play came on a third-and-12 with 8:22 left in the game as he completed a 27- yard pass to set up a two-yard touchdown run, putting Maryland ahead 27-17.

On Maryland's second, third and fourth possessions of the second half, Turner was able to get his team into field-goal range, resulting in scores each time.

Following the game, Turner was carried off the field by a pack of his teammates and was honored Monday by the Atlantic Coast Conference by being named Co-Offensive Back of the Week.

At Chaminade, Turner was an All-Southern Section second-team honoree as a senior.

Maryland (3-2) will host Georgetown on Saturday at 9 a.m. No official word has been made on whether Turner will start.

-- Lindsay Czarnecki

Tonkin to become a Trojan

Palmdale High baseball pitcher Michael Tonkin has verbally committed to USC. The 6-foot-6 senior right-hander chose the Trojans over Arizona and Oregon.

Tonkin was 8-2 with a 1.87 ERA as a first-team All-Golden League junior. He is entering his fourth year of a varsity career that includes a no- hitter as a freshman and a perfect game as a sophomore.

-- Heather Gripp

Crescenta Valley's Cho is Scholastic All-American

Christine Cho's golf resume is as impressive as any of her area peers.

But the Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta senior's performance in the classroom is exceptional, recently earning her the honor of being selected to the American Junior Golf Association HP Scholastic Junior All-America team.

The 17-year-old senior, who is ranked 11th academically in a class of 719 with a 4.368 GPA, was one of two California student-athletes -- along with Francis Parker of San Diego's Julia Thead -- selected among 12 nationally for their excellence on the course and in the classroom. Her 2,290 on the SAT is the highest score of any All-America team member.

To be eligible for nomination, female golfers needed a top-five finish in the past year in an AJGA event, which Cho accomplished by securing a fourth-place tie at the Fidelity Investments Junior Classic in July at Marblehead, Mass.

Cho, who captured the Pacific League individual title last year and advanced to the Southern Section finals, is also a National Merit semifinalist.

Chaminade's Capicotto chooses Fordham

One of the area's top outside hitters will be taking her talents to the East coast to play college volleyball.

Chaminade of West Hills senior Kim Capicotto recently made a verbal commitment to compete at Fordham University in New York, choosing the Rams over Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, and Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn.

"I visited all three schools and I liked all of them," said the 5-foot-11 Capicotto, who has ranked among the Southern Section leaders in kills the past two seasons. "But I could see myself fitting in best at Fordham. They had everything I wanted."

Capicotto, who led the area with 487kills last year, is looking forward to the change of scenery.

"I kind of wanted to fly across country and try something new," she said. "I think it'll be fun."

Capicotto still has some unfinished business before she graduates, namely leading Chaminade (6-5) to a Southern Section Div. I-A playoff berth. The Eagles play host to Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks at 6:30 p.m. today.

-- Erik Boal

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