BRIEFLY : Jockey Returns to Track After Giving Birth

When Jockey Melody Hamilton rode her maiden race last March at Santa Anita, she was carrying something else besides an apprentice weight allowance.

Hamilton, unknown to everybody at the track, was pregnant.

A few months later, the 32-year-old resident of Sherman Oaks had to give up her job as an exercise rider for trainer Danny Velasquez. The weight she had gained--as well as the galloping she had to do--were making it uncomfortable for her to ride.

In November, Amber Hamilton was born, and her mother finally returned to the track a month ago. “I was sore the first week,” she said, “but it’s great to be back.”

Kickers, Jets to Scrimmage Today

The California Kickers of the Western Soccer Alliance will scrimmage the Jets, a Valley-area club team, at 11 a.m. today at Valley College after a 3-1 season-opening exhibition victory over the Los Angeles Soccer Club.

Meanwhile, the Kickers are finalizing dates for international matches against Norwich City of England, Hearts of Scotland and Herfolge of Denmark.

NOTABLE

Craig Buck and Jeff Stork, both Taft High graduates, will play on the world and Olympic champion U.S. men’s volleyball team when it meets China in the second match of a six-match exhibition tour at 7:30 tonight at UC Irvine.

Marty Wilson, Ventura County Player of the Year in 1984 as a senior at Simi Valley High, will redshirt at Pepperdine this season. Wilson, projected as the Waves’ starting point guard, will spend the next few months rehabilitating a pair of protruding discs in his spine. He was injured in October during workouts. Wilson will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Michelle Stevens, Marmonte League Player of the Year in 1985 as a senior at Westlake High, will miss the remainder of the basketball season at Pepperdine while recovering from knee surgery. Stevens missed most of last season, too, with a knee injury. She has three years of eligibility remaining.

Robin Romeo of Van Nuys finished first at the Worldwide Women Bowlers $9,500 tournament last Sunday at Carter Bowl in Fullerton. Romeo knocked down 4,046 pins in 16 games and won $1,250. Lauren Takahashi of Canoga Park finished 11th, winning $350.

Eric Forkel of Van Nuys finished second in last Sunday’s Azusa Open, knocking down 6,420 pins in 28 games and winning $900. Al Choder of Canoga Park finished ninth, winning $420.