FORMER HART QUARTERBACKS FINDING THEIR OWN NICHE.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson

Lots of news to report involving former Hart High football quarterbacks, starting with Tyler Lyon, who helped carry the Indians to a Southern Section Div. II final this past December.

Lyon, who has committed to Arizona, is slated to participate in the 10th annual East-West All-Star Game on June 11 at 3:30 p.m. at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa.

As a senior, Lyon passed for 2,282 yards and accounted for 24 touchdowns (16 passing, eight rushing).

A two-sport athlete who's also a top baseball pitcher, Lyon has dropped baseball this season to concentrate on football, working out regularly with players from College of the Canyons, whose coach is Lyon's father, Chuck.

"Tyler has gotten a lot bigger and stronger. He's put on some muscle," said his father.

Complete rosters for the East-West event are expected to be finalized soon.

Meanwhile, former Hart quarterback Sean Norton is competing for the starting quarterback job at Fresno State as a red-shirt sophomore. After a strong spring, Norton could eventually edge out Tom Brandstater.

Thursday for spring break, coach (Pat) Hill said the job is still open and no one had won. That's good enough for me, because there's still the summer and fall workouts ahead of us."

Among Norton's Fresno State teammates are former Hart players and offensive linemen Chris Piligian, Kevin Ciconne and Joe Bernardi.

Plus, former Hart receiver Evan Surratt, who took a year off from football last season, might walk on as a cornerback.

"We have a lot of good offensive linemen and receivers, but Chris and Kevin are both in the mix," Norton said. "Kevin had a really good spring."

Bernardi was recently cleared after recovering from a knee injury. He gray-shirted last season following surgery.

And finally, former Hart quarterback Kyle Matter has begun a new chapter in his life after graduating from Stanford, where he played quarterback, then receiver. He recently returned from a 10-day hiking trip by himself through the mountains in South America, and now he's headed to Chicago to begin a business career.

"The hike was something Kyle has wanted to do for a long time," said his father, Art. "It was just him and his thoughts."

Thomas Kyle, a Burroughs High football and track standout who is the school's all-time leading rusher, plans to play football at Canyons this season.

It's unclear what position he'll play, though he probably could fit in at running back, receiver or defensive back. He's also a top kick returner.

Taylor Lilley, a girls' basketball standout from Hart, is a Cal-Hi Sports second-team all-state honoree. Lilley, who has signed with Oregon, averaged 19 points and set school career and single-season marks for 3-pointers this season.

Annually among the top small-schools baseball powers, Santa Clarita Christian High has its work cut out this season after graduating four-year standouts Stephen Mercier and Orlando Pena and losing top returning pitcher Augie Detres, who transferred to Vasquez of Acton.

"We're actually doing better than I expected considering we're starting one freshman and three sophomores," coach Garrick Moss said.

"A lot of the guys are young and inexperienced."

Santa Clarita Christian is 7-3, 3-2 in the Heritage League heading into Monday's 3:30 p.m. league contest at Faith Baptist of Canoga Park. The Cardinals have won four of five after rebounding from two straight shutout losses.

A memorial service for Maurren Burrill, mother of West Ranch High baseball coach Casey Burrill, is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. at West Ranch. Maurren Burrill died April 6 following a 14-year fight with cancer.

For further information, contact coach Burrill: coach(at)westranchbaseball.com. The school address is 26255 W. Valencia Blvd., in Stevenson Ranch.