BRIEFLY : Markland Facing Preliminary Hearing

A preliminary hearing for University of Illinois football player Jeff Markland, a former Pierce College All-American who is facing criminal battery charges, is scheduled for April 15 at the Champaign County Circuit Court in Champaign, Ill., according to Assistant State’s Atty. Bill Gaston.

Markland was charged with two counts of aggravated battery and one count of battery after police broke up a disturbance at a campus fraternity house March 8, Gaston said.

Markland was one of eight Illinois football players who were disciplined by Coach Mike White following the incident.

Harry Welch to Coach South Shrine Team

Canyon High football Coach Harry Welch has been selected as one of three coaches for the South team of the Shrine All-Star football game.

The annual game features 60 top graduating seniors from high schools north and south of Bakersfield. The players are selected by college recruiters and scouts.

The game is scheduled for Aug. 2 at the Rose Bowl.

First Race of Season at Saugus Speedway

Saugus Speedway will hold its first major race of the season tonight with a 150-lap Enduro race for factory stock cars.

Track officials are expecting more than 100 cars, featuring drivers who are convinced that racing is a contact sport. The winner is sure to have plenty of body work to deal with in addition to a $1,000 prize. The number of cars has increased with every race at the track. The last race in 1985, run in October, drew a record 104 cars.

Racing starts at 8 p.m. Driver introductions and the drawing for starting position will begin at 6:30 p.m.