Palo Verde doesn’t go far to find new coach

Jeff Wolfram left an extensive legacy as Palo Verde's boys golf coach the past 15 years, a run that included two Class 4A state titles.

He hopes to bring similar success to the Panthers' baseball program.

Wolfram left his post as golf coach last week to take over Palo Verde's baseball team.

"I always felt high school baseball is where kids learn more and are encouraged to improve," he said. "I just felt like it was a good opportunity to do that."

Wolfram replaces Paul Churchfield, who guided the Panthers to the Sunset Region playoffs his first five years before struggling to a seventh-place finish in the Northwest League this season.

Palo Verde athletic administrator William Keairnes said that Churchfield resigned.

Churchfield was absent from a handful of games this season after Clark County School District detectives received a police report March 17 for an alleged incident of battery by Churchfield against a player.

Churchfield returned as Palo Verde's coach March 29 even as the school district said its probe remained open.

School district police Lt. Ken Young said Tuesday that the investigation has since been closed, with nothing criminal found against Churchfield.

Several other coaching changes have developed in recent weeks.

John Parcells was hired as Cimarron-Memorial's football coach to replace Rod Vollan, who retired after posting a 20-14 record the past three seasons and serving as an assistant several years prior. Parcells was Cimarron's defensive coordinator last season.

Basic has new coaches in boys basketball (Leonard Taylor) and baseball (Timothy Padde).

Sunrise Mountain has new coaches in baseball (Shawn Dickson) and softball (Stacey Patterson).

Boulder City has new coaches in boys basketball (John Balistere) and girls basketball (Kate Ellis).

Desert Oasis is searching for a softball coach after Jerome Streets resigned after taking the Diamondbacks to the playoffs in each of his three seasons.

Agassi Prep is seeking a boys basketball coach after William Hopkins resigned after guiding the Stars to the Class 2A state title.

■ VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS -- The Southern Nevada Volleyball Coaches Association and Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club Volleyball All-Star Matches will be Saturday at Las Vegas High.

The boys match is at noon, followed by the girls at 2 p.m. The best-of-3 matches will pit top Sunset Region seniors against the Sunrise.

■ HONORS -- Boulder City junior catcher Taylor McKeever was named Most Valuable Player in both Class 3A state and Southern League softball awards. The Eagles' Bruce Reid took league Coach of the Year.

In 2A baseball, The Meadows junior pitcher Garrett Gosse shared state MVP with Yerington junior catcher Jarrod Adams and took Southern League MVP outright. The Meadows' Frank DeSantis won league Coach of the Year.