Aztecs Win WAC Women’s Tennis Title

San Diego State captured the Western Athletic Conference women’s tennis title with 5-1 victory over Utah at Fort Collins, Colo. Saturday. Sue Hawke’s 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Alison Bradford at No. 2 singles clinched the victory for the 16th-ranked Aztecs (12-7). The Aztecs also swept the postseason awards as SDSU Coach Carol Plunkett was named WAC coach of the year and Eva Olivarez was selected player of the year.

Pepperdine beat the University of San Diego in four of six singles matches and took a 66-60 lead going into today’s finals of the West Coast Conference women’s tournament at St. Mary’s. Laura Richards (Flight A) and Tuck Kacharoen (Flight B) were the only Toreras to advance into the finals of their respective flights.

USD sent its three doubles teams into the finals: Richards and Julie McKeon, Kara Brady and Tracy Ishii, and Paula Hansen and Tuck Kacharoen.

Pepperdine, ranked 10th nationally, clinched the WCC men’s title by sending four singles players into the semifinals and two doubles teams into the finals. Pepperdine leads USD, 99-60, entering the final day. The Toreros advanced Kevin Bradley and Ignacio Martinez into the quarterfinals, but they lost to Pepperdine’s Howard Joffe and Charles Auffray. Bradley and Phil Hoffman reached the semifinals of the doubles before losing.

UC San Diego swept all matches in straight sets in defeating Occidental, 9-0. No. 1 singles player John Cross had the toughest challenge, but got by Grant Deremer, 7-6, 7-6 as UCSD improved to 4-13.

San Diego’s Taryn Burgk and Chula Vista’s Marisa Velasco and Amanda Augustus won titles at the Ojai amateur tournament. Burgk, seeded third in the boys 16 singles, was leading second-seeded Jakub Pietrowski of Huntington Beach, 7-6, 4-6, 4-1 when Pietrowski retired. Top-seeded Velasco and Augustus beat Marisa MaClennan and Danielle Ouwendijk of Somis, 6-2, 6-2, to win the girls doubles.

In the girls 18 singles, Serra’s Nikki Willette lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Stacey Jellen of Calabasas, 6-2, 6-1. In the girls 18 doubles, Erin Bohrnstedt and Alison McNellis of Torrey Pines lost in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-1, to Erika Asmuss and Jocelyn Cruz of La Palma.

Top-seeded James Conda and Jonathon Elsberry of La Jolla High were upset in the semifinals of the boys interscholastic doubles by Valhalla’s Patrick O’Neil and Jamie Saben, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. O’Neil and Saben lost in the finals to Alex Decret and Jason Merrin of Santa Barbara, 6-4, 6-3. Top-seeded Vanessa Rooks of Monte Vista was beaten in girls 16 finals by second-seeded Brandi Freundenberg, 7-5, 6-4. Rooks beat San Pasqual’s Molly Gavin, 6-0, 6-1 to reach the finals.

BASEBALL

Benji Grigsby and John Lynn pitched seven-inning complete games as San Diego State swept a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader at Colorado State, 7-2 and 12-5. Grigsby (8-1) allowed five hits while striking out seven and walking two.

Greg Quam had three hits and three RBIs and Patrick Mummy had two hits and three RBIs. Lynn (8-1) gave up eight hits, struck out five and walked one. Mummy had two more hits, two RBIs and stole three bases and Brad Gennaro hit a two-run homer and stole two bases. The Aztecs improved to 33-11, 15-3. CSU is 18-33, 2-17.

USD turned a triple play in a 9-1 victory over host University of San Francisco in the second game of a WCC doubleheader. USF won the first game, 3-2. With USF trailing 3-1 in the second game, Ron Henke’s hit-and-run line drive was caught by USD pitcher Jeff Crane, who threw to get Bryan McCaffrey and Bob Freschi before they could get back to their bases.

USD turned two double plays behind Crane (8-4), who threw a six-hitter. USD (24-22, 12-12) had 16 hits in the second game, three each by Larry Williams and Josh Stepner. Sean Gousha gave the Toreros their only runs in the first game with a two-run homer.

UC San Diego, ranked 14th in Division III, swept a doubleheader at The Master’s College, 11-10 and 12-9.

In the first game, Brent Hansen pitched four innings to earn his ninth victory against no setbacks. He was supported by Ernie Isola (three RBIs), Marcus Magdaleno (two RBIs), Doran Yount (Three RBIs) and Dominic Dirksen (one RBI).

In the second game, Steve Wrenn went four for five, Dave Rex drove in four runs on two homers, and Ernie Izola drove in three more.

PLNC got complete games from Craig Van Hulzen and Chris Gunnett as it swept a GSAC doubleheader at Westmont, 3-1 and 4-3. PLNC improved to 5-13 in the GSAC.

SOFTBALL

Tammy Wasilewski and Hilary Savage tossed shutouts as USD swept a WCC conference doubleheader from visiting Loyola Marymount, 9-0 and 8-0. Wasilewski (15-7) allowed five hits and struck out four. She had help from freshman catcher Lisa Goodwin (four for four), senior Julie Andrews (three for four) and sophomore Cindy Harris (two for four). Savage (11-4) also allowed five hits and struck out three. Marianne Stahl led USD (26-11) with two hits and three RBIs and Aimee Reinhard had three hits and two RBIs. LMU fell to 3-17.

Point Loma Nazarene finished its first season with a doubleheader loss at Azusa Pacific, 6-4 and 11-2, in Golden State Athletic Conference play. Robin Rabello had a two-run triple for PLNC (13-21, 4-12) in the first game.