Challenger Program Offers Chance for Disabled Youngsters to Play

An all-star team from the Northview Little League will be embarking on a new challenge Friday when it plays an all-star team from La Puente.

The teams, culled from the Challenger Division of their respective leagues, will play at 5 p.m. at Northview’s home field in Covina.

The Challenger division of Little League baseball is a program for mentally and physically disabled youngsters. The goal of the program is to create an athletic environment structured to the participants’ abilities.

“The league is open to all kinds of kids,” said Charlene Robinson, an El Monte resident whose son, Matthew, plays in the Northview League. “Some are in wheelchairs. Others have learning problems.

“It doesn’t seem to matter when they play games, though. It’s amazing to see how their self-confidence grows when they get a chance to get out there.”

This season, three teams competed in the Challenger Division of the Northview Little League, which draws participants ages 6 to 18 from Rosemead to Pomona.

Traditional baseball rules are modified for the Challenger division depending on ability. Coaches pitch to their own players, a hitting tee is used when necessary and every player gets at least one at-bat each inning.

Robinson said the program has grown to the point that there are plans for a basketball league for Challenger athletes.

“There are a lot of parents who don’t know that there are programs like ours available for their kids,” Robinson said. “The more families we can attract, the better it is for everyone.”

For information about Challenger programs and activities, call (818) 448-4420.

Seven San Gabriel Valley-area softball players were selected to All-Southern Section teams for their performances this past season.

Senior pitcher Kim Findley of South Hills and senior infielder Cindy Escobedo of Walnut were named to the 3-A Division team.

Junior catcher Jessica Ancona of Rosemead, junior infielder Natalie Pray of San Dimas and sophomore utility player Kris Barragan of San Dimas were selected to the 2-A team.

Sophomore catcher Jennifer Giampaolo and senior infielder Jamie Hahn of Pasadena Poly were named to the 1-A team.

Seniors Jay Japlit and Brian Read of Bosco Tech and junior Ted Smith of Pasadena Poly were selected to the All-Southern Section 2-A Division volleyball team.

Three San Gabriel Valley-area schools were among eight schools in the Southern Section that won championships in three different sports categories during the past school year.

San Marino won the 3-A boys’ cross-country, 2-A baseball and 3-A boys’ tennis championships. Pasadena Poly won the 5-AA girls’ basketball, 1-A girls’ soccer and 1-A boys’ tennis titles. Walnut won the 1-A boys’ soccer, 2-A girls’ swimming and 2-A boys’ swimming.

Azusa Pacific has signed five basketball players who will enroll in the fall.

Tim Sebek, a 6-foot-4 guard, averaged 24.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists last season at Nordhoff High in Ojai.

Ronnie Winbush, a 6-8 junior swingman, is transferring from Cal State Long Beach. Winbush averaged 2.9 points.

Paul White, a 6-8 junior center, averaged 9.2 points and 7.1 rebounds at Cerritos College.

Bob Terry, a 6-8 forward, averaged 18 points and eight rebounds a game for Fullerton College.

Scott Williams, a 6-6 forward, played at Cerritos High.

Arcadia High has named its football stadium in honor of recently retired athletic director Dick Salter, who was a football coach at the school for 23 years.

Salter compiled a record of 120-85-6 at Arcadia.

Doug Smith, who coached the Apaches last season, will succeed Salter as athletic director.

Gayle Harris Watkins, the women’s track and cross-country coach at Cal Poly Pomona for the past three years, has resigned.

Watkins coached two individual NCAA Division II champions at Pomona. Doris Williams won the 100-meter hurdles in 1990 and Jakki Henderson won the 400-meter event in 1991.

No replacement for Watkins has been named.

The Amateur Athletic Foundation Rose Bowl Aquatic Center is sponsoring a triathlon that will be held July 26 at the facility in the Arroyo Seco area of Pasadena.

The event includes a 3-mile run, 10-mile bike stage and a 400-meter swim.

Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in each age division. Relay teams are also welcome.

Information: (818) 792-9512.

Tennis lessons for children between 4 and 18 are available this summer at the Whittier Narrows Tennis Center in South El Monte.

Three sessions will be held, beginning July 22.

Information: (818) 575-4737.