SPORTS BRIEFS : 49ers’ Hitter to Play for U.S. in Pan Am Games

Third baseman Jason Giambi of Cal State Long Beach has been selected to play for the United States in the Pan Am Games scheduled Aug. 11 to 17 in Havana, Cuba. Giambi, an all-conference and all-College World Series choice, led the Big West Conference in hitting with a batting average of .417. He will be a junior next year.

The Toronto Blue Jays are expected to continue to pursue the signing of Millikan High School outfielder Dante Powell, despite the fact that Powell turned down the team’s initial offer and plans to attend Cal State Fullerton. If Powell signs, he would be the fourth area product and fifth Titan recruit overall to do so. Previous Fullerton players from the area to sign pro contracts are Cerritos High outfielder Rickey Cradle (Blue Jays), Millikan catcher Pat Thacker (Blue Jays) and Pioneer High pitcher Hector Trinidad (Cubs).

Cerritos College has been chosen to play host to the first two baseball games of the Pacific Rim Goodwill Series featuring high school all-star teams from Japan, Korea and the United States. The games will take place Aug. 31. The final four games of the series will be played Sept. 1 and 2 at Riverside Municipal Stadium. Begun in 1983, the Goodwill series rotates among sites in the three participating countries.

Master Chan-Yong Kim, who runs the Oriental Moo-Do School in Artesia, was the coordinator of martial arts events held at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson for the United States Olympic Festival.

Robin Davis, formerly of Brethren High, has been appointed women’s volleyball coach at Biola University. The La Mirada university also announced that Jerry Husson, an assistant at The Master’s College in Newhall, has been appointed baseball coach.

Three Lakewood girls placed in the top 10 in Developmental all-around competition at the YMCA National Gymnastic Championships July 1 to 3 in San Diego. They are Jill Heth (5th), Kelly Virtue (8th) and Janine Roach (10th). Four athletes placed in the top 10 in Level 5 all-around competition. They are Shannon Balogh (2nd), Cami Felipe (5th), Bridget Cooney (8th) and Caryn Roach (9th). In Level 6 all-around competition three gymnasts placed. They are Rachel Borcherts (8th) and Erin Borcherts and Amanda Pamatmat (tie, 9th). In the Championship Division, Donna Sexton finished 10th on the balance beam. Amy Pamatmat and Charity Lazzari also participated for Lakewood, which finished third out of more than 60 teams entered in the Developmental Division.

A girls high school-age team from Lynwood will participate in the first National High School Women’s Basketball Tournament to be held at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson beginning Tuesday and running through July 27. The event is being sponsored by the Olympic Girls Development League. A total of 12 teams, including seven from out of state, will participate. Information: 632-1666.

Richard Wiard, an assistant athletic director at Bishop Amat High in La Puente, has been chosen basketball coach at St. Paul High in Santa Fe Springs. Wiard also will assume assistant athletic director duties for the Swordsmen.

Maureen Mendoza has been chosen to coach the men’s water polo team at Rio Hondo College near Whittier. Mendoza, 30, is a 14-year veteran of the women’s U.S. National Team. Rio Hondo also announced that former Santa Ana Rancho Santiago College assistant Don Frank has been appointed men’s basketball coach.

Running back Leon Neal (Lynwood) and defensive back Richard Washington (Poly) have been selected to play in the 40th North-South Shrine All-Star Football Game. It will be played July 27 at the Rose Bowl. Neal averaged 8.8 yards a carry during three years on the Lynwood High varsity. Washington made 81 tackles and intercepted five passes for the Jackrabbits. Both high school graduates will enroll at the University of Washington this fall.