Blast Expects to Break Even This Year

It looks as though the Major Soccer League won’t ask its players to accept another salary cap reduction. The Baltimore Blast announced Wednesday that it projects a break-even season thanks to a 15% increase in attendance (to 8,000 per game), sponsorship revenue of more than $1 million and the fourth salary cap reduction in the past five years, which was instituted before the current season.

“For years critics have been saying that soccer in the U.S. will always be a money-loser,” Blast owner Ed Hale said. “We can now stand up and say, ‘Operating a professional soccer team does not mean you will take a financial beating.”’

It is believed to be only the third time in 14 years an MSL team has broken even. League officials hope the announcement will aid expansion efforts.

BASKETBALL

San Diego State’s Joe McNaull was named as honorable mention on the all-Western Athletic Conference team Wednesday.

McNaull, a sophomore, averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game this season.

University of San Diego forward Lynda Jones, a senior from Mt. Carmel High, was selected first team All-West Coast Conference. Jones averaged 12.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Torero sophomore forward Jill Shaver was named honorable mention.

BASEBALL

Ricky Navarro improved to 4-0 with six shutout innings as San Diego State routed visiting Portland, 10-0, in a nonconference game. SDSU pitchers had 16 strike outs, nine by Navarro, five by Jay Hassell, and two by Benjie Grigsby. Derek Vinyard led Aztec hitters with three hits, an RBI and three runs scored, Marcelino Garcia added three hits and three RBIs. The Aztecs improved to 13-6, Portland fell to 6-6.

FOOTBALL

The Chargers announced the signing of unrestricted free agent Cedric Jackson, who played last season for the Detroit Lions. Jackson played in eight games, gaining 53 yards in 17 carries, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He was the Lions’ eighth-round draft choice in 1991 out of Texas Christian.

TENNIS

Eleventh-ranked Pepperdine defeated 13th-ranked San Diego State, 6-3, in a nonconference women’s match at Pepperdine. Sue Hawke provided SDSU’s only singles victory by defeating Nina Eriksson, 6-3, 6-1. Hawke and Nicole Storto, ranked second nationally, defeated Eriksson and Merete Stockman, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles. The Aztecs fell to 5-2; the Waves improved to 9-5.

Vern Yarnell defeated Quinn Fionda, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 6 singles for UC San Diego’s only victory against visiting Navy in men’s nonconference play. UCSD fell to 1-5.

SOFTBALL

UCSD swept a doubleheader from the visiting U.S. Coast Guard, 12-0 and 10-0. Emily Rubin led the Tritons (10-6) by going five for seven in the two games with four RBIs, Faith Franke was four for seven with two RBIs and four runs scored and Lisa Mora had three hits, scored four runs and knocked in a run.