College Notebook : USD in the Swing of Things Again

Most San Diego collegiate tennis buffs regard the 1980-81 University of San Diego team as the county’s finest.

The Toreros finished the season ranked No. 17 in the nation and had three future professionals on the roster.

Peter Herrmann, Scott Lipton and Terry Ward became world ranked players with Lipton receiving the highest ranking at No. 110.

But this year’s team already has done something the 1980-81 team could not achieved--defeat West Coast Athletic Conference opponent Pepperdine.

USD defeated No. 7 Pepperdine 5-4 recently and defeated Stanford 6-0 after the Cardinal were ranked No. 5 in preseason polls.

With the victory over the Waves, USD is hoping to break into the national rankings for the first time since the 1980-81 season. The team rankings will be released today.

The individual rankings released Monday has the Toreros Scott Patridge at No. 67 in the nation in singles and the doubles team of Patridge and Dave Stewart ranked No. 54.

The Toreros may play Pepperdine again at the WCAC championships April 24-26 at Santa Clara. USD has never won the conference title.

Before the season started, USD did not look like it would have one of its best teams. For various reasons, from illness to academics, there are only seven players on the USD roster. But those seven have made it through the season--so far.

“It’s remarkable we got through the season without sickness or injury,” Coach Ed Collins said. “I guess the guys knew they couldn’t get sick or injured.”

Four players signed letters of intent to play basketball at Christian Heritage College next season. The Hawks were 8-20 last season, their first of intercollegiate play.

John Burkhardt, a 6-foot 10-inch sophomore center, played one season at Fullerton College before sitting out last season.

“He’s a diamond in the rough,” said Jim Huckaby, Christian Heritage coach. “He’s going to be a sleeper.”

Larry Lopez, a 6-7 sophomore forward, played his freshman year as a starter at Panhandle State in Oklahoma. Lopez, from Auburn, Calif., returned to the West Coast after his freshman year and sat out last season.

David Kirksey, a 6-8, 225-pound junior forward, played at Cypress College.

Steve Porter, a 5-11 guard who played two seasons at San Diego City College, sat out last season.

Shaun Manning, Grossmont College guard, was named to the 20-member Community College All-American team selected by the JC Athletic Bureau and California Community College Basketball Coaches Assn.

Manning (6-3, 175) attended Christian Brothers High in Sacramento. He helped lead Grossmont to the Pacific Coast Conference title as a freshman and to a second-place finish as a sophomore. Both seasons, Grossmont advanced to the Southern California Regional tournament.

Manning is considering transferring to United States International University or Rutgers.

San Diego State’s Scott Hoth qualified for the NCAA track and field championships with a hammer throw of 201-feet 7-inches in the recent Sun Angel Invitational at Tempe, Ariz. The NCAA qualifying mark is 200-2. Hoth’s throw also set a school record, breaking the previous mark of 199-11 set by Jim Thiss in 1983. Hoth, a senior, had a personal best of 189-0 entering the meet.

The United States International University hockey team received two more letters of intent. Left wing Troy Coulson (6-0, 180) and center Shawn Jourdain (6-1, 185) will be freshmen members of the Gulls’ team next season. Jourdain was named to the U.S. Hockey League All-Star team that is currently touring Switzerland.

The women’s softball team from United States International University looks as if it will defend its West Coast Athletic Conference title. The Gulls are 6-0 in conference and have doubleheaders remaining at Nevada Reno April 29 and the University of San Diego at home May 9.

The Palomar College women’s softball team is ranked No. 3 in the state by the JC Athletic Bureau’s Coaches Poll. In the Southern California poll, Palomar is No. 2 behind Rancho Santiago College of Santa Ana.