SportsScope : Lions Take On Champion Pepperdine in Bid for Playoffs, Higher Ranking

Loyola Marymount University’s baseball team, mathematically eliminated from the West Coast Athletic Conference title, can still improve its national ranking and postseason chances with a good showing this weekend in a three-game series against third-ranked Pepperdine. Loyola, 31-15-1 after USC snapped its nine-game winning streak Monday, is 6-7-1 in the WCAC, half a game out of second place. The Lions are ranked 23rd this week by USA Today and 30th by ESPN. Pepperdine has clinched the WCAC title and swept an earlier three-game series from the Lions. Friday’s game at Loyola begins at 2:30 p.m. The teams play a noon double-header Saturday at Pepperdine.

Loyola’s hottest hitter remains sophomore Travis Tarchione, who had a 6-for-6 day against Nevada-Las Vegas last week and is hitting .404 with 38 runs batted in. Junior Chris Donnels is at .358 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI. Catcher Jim McAnany is hitting .361 with 40 RBI and 8 homers, giving him 29 for his career. That places him second in school annals behind Donnels. Other top hitters are Don Sparks (.367) and Carl Fraticelli (.364).

Cal State Dominguez Hills will try to build on its lead in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. baseball race, playing five conference games in the next six days. The Toros began the week at 29-11 overall and 13-5 in the CCAA, a game and a half ahead of Cal Poly Pomona and two ahead of Cal State Northridge. The Toros play a 2:30 game Friday at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (6-10, fifth place), then a noon double-header there Saturday. They return home to play Pomona (11-6) at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and UC Riverside (4-12, seventh) at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Toros have won seven of their last eight games and 19 of 23 to move up to fifth in the Division II ratings.

Senior right-hander Mike Asprey had his best game of the season last weekend, a complete game, 12-strikeout, 10-3 victory over Riverside to improve his record to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in the CCAA. Asprey, who notched his fourth complete game, has emerged as the team stopper. With 90 innings pitched, he has thrown nearly double the amount of any other Toro pitcher. Outfielder Jon Beuder has the team’s hot bat, hitting .377 for the season and .500 in the last five games (10 for 20). First baseman Jeff Sears is also on a streak, having hit in eight straight games and 13 of 15. Outfielder Fred Hanker continues to lead in most power categories with 9 doubles, 6 homers and 45 runs batted in.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s softball team concludes its California Collegiate Athletic Assn. schedule with a double-headers Thursday at UC Riverside and Sunday at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Lady Toros entered the week 23-24 for the season and 7-9 in the CCAA. They finish the season with a non-league tournament April 30 to May 2.

Loyola Marymount’s men’s volleyball team closed out the season in last place in the Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Assn. The Lions were 14-20 overall but 1-17 in the WIVA, which has most of the nation’s top-ranked teams. Over the weekend Loyola lost in three games to third-rated USC and in four games to Stanford.

The eighth Palos Verdes Peninsula Library 10-K/3-K will start at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Courtyard Mall, 550 Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates. Entry fee is $12 including T-shirt or $9 without. Funds will benefit the peninsula’s library district. Races include a competitive 10-K and a family 3-K walk-run. There is a trophy for the high school with the most entrants. Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female finishers and eight age-group winners.