VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : DIGEST : Sylmar Loses Jimenez, Possibly for Season, Due to Knee Injury

Middle blocker Kassy Jimenez of Sylmar High, a two-time All-City Section selection in girls’ volleyball, is probably out for the season because of a knee injury.

Jimenez, a 5-foot-11 senior who is the school’s career leader in blocks, was injured while attempting a kill in a match Tuesday against Poly.

The preliminary diagnosis from an emergency room physician found damage to the medial and lateral collateral ligaments in her left knee.

Jimenez, who saw a family physician on Wednesday, will consult an orthopedic specialist on Monday.

“It doesn’t look good,” Coach Bob Thomson of Sylmar said. “If we could get her for playoffs [in November], it would be a miracle.”

The Spartans (2-0), ranked No. 6 in the region by The Times, play host to No. 9 Chatsworth tonight.

“I think we can still have a successful season,” Thomson said. “I’m not counting us out. We’ve got a pretty good nucleus still.”

FOOTBALL

* Freshman Kyle Boller has been selected to start at quarterback for California on Saturday in the Bears’ Pacific 10 Conference opener against Arizona State in Berkeley.

Boller, a Hart High graduate who passed for 59 touchdowns last season, played but did not start in the first two games for California (1-1).

* Ventura College is ranked No. 5 in the Southern California junior college rankings after defeating San Jacinto, 17-7. Canyons is No. 9.

BASEBALL

* Matt Harrington, a senior pitcher at Palmdale High, has committed to Arizona State.

* Bill Wright, a 6-1, 185-pound third baseman from Bakersfield Garces High, has committed to Cal State Northridge.

* The Lancaster Stealth open play at 7:15 tonight in the California Fall League against the Rancho Cucamonga Surfers at the Hangar.

SOCCER

* Robert Hayes has been selected to coach the girls’ team at Chatsworth. He was an assistant coach with the boys’ team last season.

BOXING

* Victor Ortiz of Simi Valley will fight Fred Thomas of Los Angeles in a light-heavyweight main event Tuesday night at Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas.