BRIEFLY : Masters Track Meet Begins Today

The National Masters News age-handicapping track and field meet runs today at Birmingham High from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Anyone 30 or older is eligible to compete regardless of ability.

Age-handicapping means the oldest runner starts first, the youngest one starts last and the first one to the finish line is the winner. Women and men compete together based on age tables compiled by The Athletics Congress.

Admission is free to spectators.

Information: (818) 785-1895.

Valley Team Falls in Palomino Final

After winning three of its first four games, North Valley was beaten by Houston in the championship game of the Palomino (17- and 18-year-old) World Series, 5-1, last week in Greensboro, N.C. There was a five-hour rain delay in the fourth inning with Houston leading, 2-1. The game resumed at 10 p.m. and concluded just before midnight.

Tim Nedin of Hart High pitched the first two innings of the final before giving way to Brian Clancy of Loyola Marymount. When Clancy returned to the mound following the rain delay, he allowed a home run.

“The rain delay really hurt,” said Dan Takahashi of Granada Hills High. “Our arms got tight and we didn’t swing the bat the way we had in earlier games.”

North Valley, made up of high school and college players, finished with a record of 14-3 in four tournaments. The team had 53 hits in its first four World Series games before falling victim to the four-hit pitching of Houston’s Chris Darn in the final. Houston, which returned 10 players from the 1985 Palomino World Series championship team, also beat North Valley, 3-2, in the third game of the series.

North Valley defeated Puerto Rico, 8-3, in the first round and Homer (Ill.), 8-4, in the second round before losing to Houston the first time. Nedin pitched a five-hitter in a 7-3 win over Cincinnati in the fourth game. Takahashi, Eddie Hall, Rob Campbell, Steve Klaus, Sean Casey and Bill Picketts each had two hits against Cincinnati.

Hotel Offers Second Fight Card

The Sheraton Universal Hotel offers its second professional boxing program of the summer Monday night at 8 under the chandeliers of its grand ballroom.

Roberto Cantu of North Hollywood, with a record of 12-5-3, will fight Mark Parea (9-1-1) of Albuquerque in a lightweight bout.

In a scheduled six-round bantamweight fight, Carlos Manzano (12-2) of Commerce faces Oscar Eschavaria (4-1) of Los Angeles.

NOTABLE

Dave Berganio of Sylmar finished fourth at the Junior State Golf Championships at Pleasanton on Thursday with a 54-hole total of 222. Jimmy Chang of Westlake shot a 223 to finish fifth. Mike Schafer of Merced won the championship with a score of 216.

Joe Stack of Mission Hills shot a 67 Thursday to finish first among 14- and 15-year-olds at an invitational golf tournament at the Vintage Club in Palm Springs. John Plewes of Mission Hills finished second among 16- and 17-year-olds by losing in a playoff to John Harding of Palm Desert. Both golfers shot a 73, but Harding won on the second extra hole.

Former Pierce College baseball Coach Bob Lyons will return as an assistant coach for the 1987 season. Lyons, a finalist for the Pierce athletic director job in July, will assist first-year coach Charlie Williams, who replaces Tim Collins. Williams is the Brahmas’ fourth baseball coach in four years.

Wayne Case of the Wood Ranch golf course and Duffy Waldorf of Tarzana tied for third with Jeff Baxter of Stockton at the $75,000 Queen Mary Open on Wednesday at the Lakewood Country Club. The trio shot 67 for 18 holes, earning $213 a piece. Jim Carson of Artesia shot 65 to win.