Area Roundup : Fullerton to Challenge UCLA Gymnasts

Cal State Fullerton’s men’s gymnastic team, which upset 13th-ranked Stanford in Palo Alto last week, will play host to defending NCAA champion UCLA in a dual meet at noon Sunday.

The Bruins, led by Chris Caso and Tony Pineda, are ranked third this season despite an 0-2 record after losing a double dual meet to Arizona State and New Mexico. Caso was a member of the 1984 U.S. Gymnastics Federation National Team. Pineda represented Mexico in the Olympics.

The Titans, ranked 17th, have a 5-1 record.

“I think this is the best team I’ve ever had,” Fullerton Coach, Dick Wolfe said. “We set this meet up at the last minute because the Bruins were looking for an easy win. I think we just might surprise them a little.”

Marty Castillo of the Detroit Tigers, Ed Amelung of the Dodgers and Dick Ownbey of the St. Louis Cardinals are among those scheduled to play in the Santa Ana College alumni baseball game at 1 p.m. Sunday on the Dons’ baseball diamond.

Dividing point for establishing the teams will be 1980. Former Santa Ana Coach Jim Reach will coach the pre-1980 team and current Coach Don Sneddon will coach the more recent players.

John Bryant and Greg Mathews, both members of Cal State Fullerton’s 1984 NCAA championship team, are scheduled to play. Bryant plays in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization, and Mathews is in the Cardinals’ farm system.

Former UC Irvine water polo goalie Rod Oshita has been named to this year’s U.S. National Team Handball squad, which will compete in the World B Championship from Feb. 22 to March 3 in Oslo, Norway.

Oshita, 6-foot 6-inches, 210 pounds, was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and has previously been selected to the national team three times. He has played in international tournaments in Cuba, Romania and Switzerland.

The United States will open against Hungary in the first round.

The AMA-sanctioned Supercross Series makes its way to Anaheim Stadium on Saturday. At last year’s event, 70,203 fans saw Johnny O’Mara earn his first-ever supercross victory.

Along with O’Mara, who won the first round of the series last week at San Diego-Jack Murphy Stadium, top contenders are David Baily, Bob “Hurricane” Hannah and Jeff Ward. Tickets are available at the stadium and at ticket outlets.

Around the Area

Anaheim boxer Bert Lee has been signed by promoter Don Fraser to headline the first professional boxing program in the Marriott Hotel at Irvine on Monday, Feb. 11. Lee will fight Danny Lopez of Orange in a scheduled 10-round bout with a 155-pound weight limit. . . . Olympic cycling silver medalist Nelson Vails will be one of the featured speakers at the Two-Wheel Transit Authority at 8 tonight. Vails, who placed second to teammate Mark Gorski in the match sprints, will discuss success in cycling. Admission is $4. Appearing with Vails will be U.S. Cycling Coach Edward Borysewicz. The former Polish national coach is given much of the credit for U.S. success in the 1984 Summer Games. . . . Irvine Coast Country Club will play host to the Crosby Southern Pro-Am Golf Tournament Feb. 9 and 10. The tournament, which pairs 74 professional golfers with 74 amateurs, has a purse of $40,000 for the pros plus a variety of prizes for amateurs. Proceeds will benefit Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach. Competiton begins Feb. 9 at 7:30 a.m. Gallery tickets are $5 for adults, no charge for children. For information, call (714) 640-4402 or 760-5917. . . . Pitchers Tommy John of the Angels and Dan Petry of the Tigers head the list of the celebrities who will play Feb. 6 in the third annual Canyon High School Celebrity Golf Tournament at Anaheim Hills. Proceeds will help support the Canyon athletic program. For information, call (714) 974-7226 or (714) 637-5611. . . . A sports health clinic for baseball and softball coaches of youth teams will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Placentia-Linda Community Hospital. The clinic, a free service of the hospital, will offer advice on conditioning, diet and emergency field situations. Also discussed will be how to avoid arm injuries to pitchers and knee injuries to catchers. The clinic will include demonstrations, refreshments and free emergency handbooks. For information, call (714) 993-2000.