L.A. Express to Play Portland in USFL Exhibition at Pierce

The Los Angeles Express will meet the Portland Breakers in a United States Football League exhibition game Feb. 16 at 1 p.m. at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

Dr. Bob O’Connor, the school’s athletic director, originally contacted the USFL’s Denver Gold about training at Pierce. When the Gold decided to train at Cal State Northridge, O’Connor then asked the Express about moving its preseason camp to Pierce.

“In our dealings,” O’Connor said of his meetings with Express officials, “they came up with the idea of having a game here.”

Said Chuck DeKeado, director of marketing for the Express, which plays its regular-season games at the Coliseum: “We’d like to generate some interest in the Valley.”

Proceeds from the Feb. 16 game at Pierce’s 5,500-seat Shepard Stadium will benefit the school’s athletic program, O’Connor said.

How Louisville Won Thriller

Some sound coaching strategy helped Louisville High girls’ basketball team win one of the top high school girls games of the season Monday. Louisville edged Alemany, 59-58, to take over sole possession in the San Fernando Valley League.

After Jennifer Kroll tied the score for Alemany at 58-58, Louisville Coach Brian O’Hara set up the inbounds play to allow Karen Secky to run along the base line. Secky passed to Ilene Hauser near the half-court line. Hauser passed to Colleen Brown, who was fouled.

Brown, a senior in her first season of basketball, shut out the screaming fans at Alemany to hit the first half of the one-and-one with two seconds left. She missed the second one, but Alemany couldn’t do anything with the rebound. Said O’Hara: “Marianella Cruz fouled out with about four minutes left and we had to go with subs Brown and Marla Wilson.” Wilson hit two free throws to make the score 56-54 in the fourth quarter.

Louisville, which has played 14 of its 16 games on the road, is 13-3 overall, 6-0 in the league and has won nine straight. Alemany, led by Ilene Hauser’s 26 points and 5 steals, suffered its first loss in the San Fernando League after six wins. It is 9-6 for the season. Three of the losses to Louisville.

New Golf Course at Wood Ranch

The newest golf course in the Valley area is the Wood Ranch Golf Club. Designed by Ted Robinson, the 7,000-yard course has nine water holes and four sets of tees at each hole.

The club opened for private membership play on Jan. 5. Information: 805-581-3651.

Alemany Girls Gain First Shutout

Alemany High girls soccer team notched its first shutout of the year with an 8-0 rout of Gladstone Monday. Shannon Lambert had three goals for the winners, who are now 2-0-1 in the Golden League. Overall, Alemany is 8-3-1.

Kathie Schanbacher had two goals while Susie Smith, Lisa Gill and Corbee Costanzo each scored a goal.

Carol Schoenmann and Robynn Eastman combined for the shutout.

Yerina Consistent for Fairfield

Pat Yerina of Thousand Oaks is the top rebounder for the Fairfield (Conn.) University basketball team this year.

The 6-5 junior forward is averaging 5.6 rebounds a game after 14 games while averaging over 10.6 points.

He has started every game in his career at Fairfield and is now over 70 games. At that rate, Yerina will be close to 1,000 points when he graduates. Yerina, who went to Crespi, should enter the top 20 in Fairfield’s all-time scoring list about this time next season.

Napier Drafted by Express

Sherman Oaks’ Scott Napier was drafted by the Los Angeles Express after leading the University of Redlands in rushing last season.

Napier, a 6-2, 243-pound tailback, was picked in the 14th round and was the only running back drafted by the Express. He was the 195th choice overall.

Napier transferred to Redlands last fall from the University of Nebraska where he spent a year as a third-string fullback. He previously played at Glendale Community College.

He gained 776 yards on 155 carries and scored 11 touchdowns.

City Wants Lifeguards

Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks Department is looking for full-time and part-time seasonal lifeguards for 55 public swimming pools across the basin.

Lifeguards will teach pool safety, new swimming techniques and will have the opportunity to develop leadership qualities, city officials said.

Lifeguards must be 17, have a good knowledge of condition and stroke technique and have a certificate in advanced lifesaving. Lifeguards are also expected to be familiar with first aid and CPR.

For those who do not have a certificate, the department is offering a Red Cross certificate courses in advanced lifesaving, first aid and CPR at 10 pools.

Pools in the Valley offering the courses are Valley Region Aquatics, 6911 Laurelgrove Ave., North Hollywood; LA Valley College Pool, 5800 Fulton Ave. Van Nuys, and Pierce College Pool, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. A registration fee will be charged for the course.

Information: 818-982-3311.

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We want to let our readers know what’s happening in the Valley. If you’ve got a sports announcement or a news tip of community interest, please send it to: Sports Digest, L.A. Times--Valley Sports Dept., 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, 91311.