Bostock Memorial Called Off as Pro Baseball Begs Off

Today was to have been the day Cal State Northridge paid tribute to one of its greatest baseball players, the late Lyman Bostock.

For the past six years, major-league baseball players formed an all-star team to play the Matador varsity in a game that raised money for the Lyman Bostock Memorial Scholarship, a fund that helped defray the cost of a student-athlete’s tenure at CSUN.

But this year’s game was cancelled, Northridge Coach Terry Craven said, because too few professional baseball players agreed to appear.

“I do not intend to have Lyman’s name attached to anything that does not represent the first-class manner and high standards with which Lyman conducted himself,” Craven said.

Bostock played at Northridge in 1971 and 1972 before going on to play with the Minnesota Twins and California Angels. He was in the process of setting up a scholarship fund at CSUN when he was shot and killed in Gary, Ind., on Sept. 23, 1978.

The Lyman Bostock Memorial Scholarship Game began in 1979. Several major-league players have participated since, including Dusty Baker, Lee Lacy, Robin Yount, George Hendrick and Jason Thompson.

In recent years, with off-season restrictions on athletes under contract, it has become increasingly difficult for CSUN to bring big-league players to the game.

When the game appeared in jeopardy in 1982, the Milwaukee Brewers, with the support of General Manager Harry Dalton and vice president Ray Poitevant, helped stage the game with their area major and minor-league players.

The Brewers were unable to support this year’s game, so Craven and his coaching staff began contacting major league players living in the San Fernando Valley.

Because he was unsuccessful in his attempts, Craven said he put the game “on hold” for a year and will renew his efforts for 1986.

Denver Gold to Play Exhibition

The Denver Gold of the United States Football League will play an exhibition game against Portland today at Cal Poly Pomona at 1:30 p.m.

The Gold, which is concluding its first preseason training camp at Cal State Northridge, is coming off a 17-17 game last week against the Los Angeles Express at Long Beach.

On Feb. 16, the Express will meet Portland at Pierce College at 1 p.m.

Softball in Conejo

The Conejo Recreation and Park District has openings for people who want to work as softball scorekeepers over the spring and summer.

Scorekeepers will be responsible for preparing the fields and keeping accurate records of league games. Games are played Sunday through Friday at Pepper Tree Playfield, Borchard Park and Thousand Oaks Community Parks.

The season begins Feb. 24 and runs until mid-July.

Also, area residents may register for an adult slo-pitch softball league. There will be six divisions: men’s open, men’s church, men’s Sunday, men’s masters, women’s open and co-ed Sunday.

League games will be played at Thousand Oaks Community Park, Pepper Tree Playfield and Borchard Park. For all divisions but Sunday, entry fees are $361 for teams in the Conejo parks district and $433 for teams outside the district. Men’s Sunday fees are $282 and $338.

Information: (805) 495-4674.

Golden Bears Track and Field

The North Valley Golden Bears track-and-field club is seeking girls aged 6 to 17 and boys aged 6 to 15. Advance registration will be held Feb. 23 at Granada Park’s Lakeview Terrace Registration Center.

The first practice is scheduled for March 2 at the Kennedy High School track, although preseason warmups have already begun at Brand Park.

A $39 fee will be charged to cover participation trophies and ribbons.

Information: (818) 360-4614.

Volleyball Officials Needed

The Agoura Hills Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volleyball officials for a Monday evening volleyball league at Agoura Hills High School.

Officials will be paid $10 a match. The league runs from Feb. 11 to May 6 and games will be played from 6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Information: (818) 889-9114.

Women’s Tackle Football

Women over 18 who are interested in joining the L.A. Scandals women’s football team should contact Jill Sturdivant at (818) 509-9488.