Fires force a change of plans
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SOMETHING IN THE AIR- Camarillo High's Ashlee Owens, right, passes the ball toward Alyssa Melford during an early-season match. Among the many local sporting events that were postponed earlier this week because of the fires was the ACHS girls' volleyball team's match at home against Channel Islands on Tuesday night. Tonight's football games will go on as originally scheduled.

For years people have said the reason for the hole in the roof at Texas Stadium is because God wants to watch his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, play football.

God may have a new favorite team.

With ash-filled skies from the California wildfires making it difficult to breathe, many local sporting events and practices in the Pacific View and Omega leagues have been rescheduled.

With outdoor practices being canceled for the majority of the week at Camarillo High, Rio Mesa High and Cornerstone Christian, many teams found creative ways to practice, probably none more so than the Cornerstone Christian eight-man football team.

On Monday and Tuesday the Eagles had the school chapel's benches cleared out so they could practice indoors.

"The team cleared the benches, put on full pads and helmets and practiced in the chapel," Cornerstone Christian athletic director David Dealy said.

"The team had on tennis shoes and basically had walkthroughs, but no tackling. It was really nice of the chapel to let the football team use it."

At Rio Mesa, a similar idea was used when head football coach Bob Gregorchuk had his team practice in full pads and helmets inside the basketball gym.

"It was more of a mental review for our team than anything," Gregorchuk said. "Our players went over their individual assignments, such as routes and blocking assignments. We had on full pads and helmets, but wore tennis shoes, and obviously we weren't doing any tackling. I don't think the basketball coach would like it if we tore up his gym."

Rio Mesa was able to start practicing outdoors on Thursday, but Gregorchuk said he was told to keep a close and cautious eye on his players and be mindful of anyone with breathing problems.

"It seems as if every year since I've been here we've had a week where there were fires or some kind of natural disaster," Gregorchuk said.

"One year it was raining so hard it was almost a monsoon. This week the practices (were) a little lighter than usual. In a way it's a good thing because any player that is dinged up can heal a little quicker before the game."

Rio Mesa, Camarillo and Cornerstone Christian will all have their respective football games go on as scheduled today, but many other sports had to reschedule events during the past week.

In girls' volleyball, Rio Mesa had its game against Hueneme this past Tuesday pushed back to Monday. Camarillo's girls' volleyball game against Channel Islands High was moved to Monday as well.

Camarillo had its girls' tennis match against Hueneme on Tuesday postponed until Nov 1. Rio Mesa's girls' tennis match against Channel Islands was rescheduled for Oct. 29, with match time set for 1 p.m.

The boys' water polo team at Camarillo had its game against Cate High moved from Tuesday to Oct. 29, with game time set for 3:15 p.m. at Rio Mesa High's pool.

The final round of the Pacific View League Golf Championships were rescheduled for yesterday at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard.

The Ventura County Cross Country Championships will go on as scheduled today at Lake Casitas in Ojai.