David Banks Signs Deal with Sockers

The San Diego Sockers announced Wednesday that David Banks, the Major Soccer League’s rookie of the year, signed a two-year contract with the team.

Banks, last season’s Rookie of the Year, signed a two-year deal that will pay him approximately $30,000 per season. He earned $16,000 last year.

Banks became the team’s first rookie to play in every regular-season game. He led MSL rookies in goals (11), points (21), blocks (39), game-winning goals (2) and hat tricks (1). His 39 blocks were second on the team. He also appeared in all 11 post-season games for the league-champion Sockers, scoring two goals and two assists and blocking 11 shots.

Said Coach Ron Newman of Banks: “His hard-nosed play last season complemented the finesse game of Kevin Crow and Ben Collins and he proved to be the diamond in the rough we thought we found.”

The Sockers have at least five players under contract. Already announced are Banks, Crow, goalie Victor Nogueira and midfielder-forward Tim Wittman. Also signed, but not announced, is defender Alex Golovnia.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Gracie Schutt had 15 kills to lead San Diego State to a 15-11, 15-10, 2-15, 15-5 victory against University of San Diego in the championship match of the San Diego City Championships at the USD Sports Center.

SDSU also got a solid effort from setter Pam Hope. Stephanie Riley and Jennifer Miller added eight kills in the finals. USD got 13 kills from Andrea Bruns.

In earlier matches, Schutt had 27 kills to lead SDSU over UC San Diego, 15-8, 15-2, 11-15, 15-12.

Nikki Wallace had 11 kills as USD beat Point Loma Nazarene, 15-7, 15-3, 15-6.

SDSU is 5-3; USD is 6-3; PLNC is 6-5; and UCSD is 2-1.

BASEBALL

San Diego State announced that former outfielder Bill Dunckel signed a contract with the Angels on Sunday.

Dunckel was not drafted after batting .332 during his senior season at SDSU. He led the team in runs scored (52), doubles (16), triples (8) and slugging percentage (.507).

During the summer, he played for the Fairbanks Goldpanners of the Alaska League and batted .410 with 16 home runs and 42 stolen bases in 60 games. He set a club record with 13 triples, was named to the all-star team and was Fairbanks’ most valuable player.

Dunckel played football and baseball at Fallbrook High, then played baseball for two years at Palomar College before attending SDSU.

MEN’S SOCCER

Christian Heritage got scoring efforts from six players to post a 6-0 nonconference victory over visiting Caltech. Carlo Redwood, Karl Downer, Patrick Smith, David Byrd, Paul Smith, Bob Thayer scored for Christian Heritage (2-3-1). Caltech is 0-1.