Three CSUN Baseball Players Sign Contracts

Cal State Northridge baseball players Steve Sharts, Mark Ban and Pete Callas signed with major league teams this week.

Ban, a senior outfielder, went in the 22nd round to the California Angels. An all-league and All-District 8 selection last year, Ban signed with the Angels’ Salem, Ore., farm club. This season, Ban hit .337 with 19 home runs and 79 runs batted in.

The Milwaukee Brewers signed Callas, a senior, as a free agent. A left-hander pitcher who has also played as first baseman and designated hitter, he will be going to the Brewers’ Idaho Falls, Ida., farm team.

Sharts, also a left-handed pitcher, was the only junior to be signed. The Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the 17th round and he signed to play in a rookie league in Bend, Ore.

CSUN Coach Terry Craven, while pleased with his players’ success, said the loss of Sharts will change his recruiting needs.

“Obviously, we counted on him as our No. 1 pitcher next season,” Craven said. “And we will be changing our recruiting focus to find someone to replace him.”

Ironman, Ironwoman Trophies in Northridge

CSUN became the first school in California Collegiate Athletic Assn. history to win both the Ironman and Ironwoman trophies in the same year. The trophies are awarded annually to the athletic department with the best overall record in conference competition.

The Matador men won CCAA championships in basketball and soccer. CSUN was also the only school other than Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to collect points in each conference sport. CSUN had 49 points, while Cal Poly SLO had 38 1/2.

The Lady Matadors, who won conference titles in volleyball, softball and tennis, edged Cal Poly Pomona, 39 1/2 points to 37 1/2. The tennis team shared its CCAA title with Pomona.

Softball pitcher Kathy Slaten, last year’s CCAA Female Athlete of the Year, finished second this time to Robyn Root, a distance runner from Cal Poly SLO.

CSUN’s Mike Almeido, a member of the basketball team, finished third in the voting for Male Athlete of the Year. That honor went to John Love, an All-American on Pomona’s baseball team.

Autumn AYSO Teams Being Organized

Summer may just be getting underway, but information for the American Youth Soccer Organization’s fall soccer season is available at Balboa Park in Encino.

There are openings for girls and boys teams, ages 5 to 18.

Information: (818) 881-AYSO or 981-5213.

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