BRIEFLY : Former CS Northridge Kicker Signs with St. Louis Cardinals

Bryan Wagner, a former All-American punter and placekicker at Cal State Northridge, signed Wednesday with the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League. Wagner signed after another free agent kicker, Ev Arapostathis, was waived Wednesday.

Wagner attended the training camps of the Dallas Cowboys last season and the New York Giants this year. He was cut by both clubs.

Cardinal Coach Gene Stallings reportedly wants to try Wagner as a kickoff man. Rookie placekicker John Lee, the Cardinals’ second pick in this year’s NFL draft from UCLA, has converted all six field goal attempts in the preseason, but his kickoffs have only been fair, a club spokesman said.

Arapostathis, a free agent from Eastern Illinois, had kicked off for the Cardinals during preseason but did not attempt any field goals.

Newhall Pony Team Faces Japan for World Series Title Today

The William S. Hart team from Newhall will play for a Pony World Series championship tonight at 4:30 PDT in Washington, Pa., against Edogawa, Japan.

Hart, a team of 13- and 14-year-olds, defeated Edogawa, 12-2, in a five-inning game Tuesday to advance to the final undefeated. Hart (3-0) needs only to win one of a possible two games to win the championship of the nine-team, double-elimination tournament.

Edogawa defeated Puerto Rico, 5-4, on Wednesday night to advance to the championship game. If Edogawa wins tonight, the decisive game will be played Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Hart defeated Hagerstown, Md., 10-0, in a five-inning game Saturday and beat Del City, Okla., 4-1, on Aug. 14.

If Hart wins the title, it will be the second championship for 10 of its members. Those 10 played for a Bronco Division (11- and 12-year-olds) team that won the World Series two years ago.