VIGIL HILL IS VALENCIA'S MASTER OF MANY SPORTS.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson

VALENCIA - Virgil Hill is Valencia High's man for all seasons, the Mr. Everything of Foothill League sports who excels over everyone, everything and everywhere - whether it's track and field, football, baseball or whatever athletic endeavor the 16-year-old phenom puts his mind to.

A year ago, Hill decided to take a season-long break from baseball to concentrate on track, winning the Foothill League 400 meters and advancing to the CIF Master's meet, eventually falling 2/10 of a second shy of a berth in the state finals.

It was widely believed Hill, now a junior, would have difficulty readjusting on the baseball field, especially when you consider Valencia's exceedingly difficult schedule. Nevertheless, the starting outfielder is batting .318 with one home run and nine RBIs and he's 7 of 7 on stolen bases, helping Valencia (18-3) win eight in a row and climb to No. 4 in the Southern Section Div. I rankings.

``I'm starting to get my swing back,'' Hill said. ``At times, I've had my difficulties but once you get the hang of it, it always comes back.''

In the meantime, Hill also starred on Valencia's football team during the fall, despite sitting out for most of the first month after recovering from a summer knee injury. He caught 36 passes (23 over the second half of the season) for 727 yards and seven touchdowns to help Valencia to the Div. II semifinals.

This year, Hill has decided to participate in baseball and track at the same time. After baseball practice, he works out on the track, and by now he's grown into his schedule of Wednesday and Friday baseball games and Thursday and Saturday track meets.

Hill has participated in 100, 200 and 400, running a blazing 10.4 100 last week - one of the fastest hand-timed marks in Foothill League history. He also defeated teammate Shane Vereen, who's considered one of Southern California's top sprinters, in the 200 in the their only head-to-head meeting.

``I'm running the fastest I've ever run in my life,'' Hill said.

At some point, Hill probably must choose a favorite sport. For now he's having too much fun to worry about it. A year younger than most of his classmates, the 6-foot, 170-pounder doesn't turn 17 until September, so he's got plenty of time to sort out his choices.

His status as a major prospect in baseball was sealed early in his freshman year when Hill hit three home runs in one game against visiting Calabasas.

``I've always loved baseball since I was in T-ball,'' Hill said. ``Football is new. I'm just starting to learn the game, but who knows what's going to happen down the road? I'm very serious about football now, too.''

Track was a natural sport, considering Hill's mother, Denean Howard-Hill, is a former track star who won a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics. He also has strong genes from his father Virgil Sr., who is the WBA Cruiserweight boxing champion after coming out of a two-year retirement to defeat Valery Brudov to win the vacant title on Jan. 27 in New Jersey.

The younger Hill sat at ringside and cheered his father on, a wonderful family moment as Hill Sr. became a world champion for the fifth time.

``People thought my dad was crazy and couldn't come back at 42. He's definitely a big confidence booster for me,'' Hill said. ``My dad being a boxer is a good thing and a bad thing. I want him to do well and I'm happy when he does but the bad thing is I don't want to see anyone hitting on my dad.''

Through the years, there have been a few brave moments when the younger Hill laced up the boxing gloves and sparred with his father. He's yet to get a clean punch in, but at least he was in there with one of the greatest boxers of the modern era.

``I couldn't touch him. My dad is way too fast,'' Hill said.

No one has ruled out boxing as a career for the son, who has an opportunity to follow in his dad's footsteps. After all, the youngster has mastered every sport he's tried, so why would boxing be different?

--Todd Longshore, a pillar in the Santa Clarita community and Canyon High sports circles, died Tuesday at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. Longshore's youngest son, Ben, is a junior quarterback and basketball player at Canyon, following in the footsteps of Canyon alums Nate and Nick, both of whom are playing Division I college football at Cal and BYU.

``Todd was an incredibly loving husband and father, first and foremost, and he was a role model,'' Canyon football coach Harry Welch said. ``He was totally involved with his wife and children, the community, the church and the school.''

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(color) Valencia High School's Virgil Hill, who is currently playing baseball, running track and learning football, keeps a busy schedule. The 16-year-old's mother is an Olympics medal winner in track and his father is a boxer. The young athlete is having too much fun to choose just one sport now.

David Crane/Staff Photographer