Orange County College Roundup : Fullerton Ranked No. 1 in First Softball Poll of ’87

Cal State Fullerton, the 1986 NCAA softball champion, was voted No. 1 in the first NCAA softball coaches’ poll for the 1987 season.

Texas A&M; was second, followed by Nebraska, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal, Northwestern, Arizona State, Fresno State, Louisiana Tech and UCLA.

The Titans, 57-9-1 last season, have seven returning starters, including Chenita Rogers, an All-American senior left fielder, and Connie Clark, a senior pitcher who was 20-2.

Coach Judi Garman enters her eighth season with the Titans. Her career record is 357-91-3.

Fullerton will begin its regular season at home against Chapman Feb. 12.

Pepperdine, the No. 3 men’s tennis team in the country, defeated UC Irvine, 5-4, Wednesday in a nonconference match at Pepperdine.

The match came down to No. 3 doubles, in which Grand Saach and David Klemith of Pepperdine defeated Mike Cadigan and Shige Kanroji, 6-3, 7-6.

UCI is ranked 22nd in the country.

UC Irvine opens the 1987 baseball season today against the University of Arizona, the defending national champion, at Tucson.

The teams play today and Friday at 2:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Anteaters return 20 players from last season’s 20-26-2 team. This season, Coach Mike Gerakos’ team was picked fifth in the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. coaches’ poll.