SPORTSCOPE : Gutierrez Is Named Toro Softball Coach

Estela Gutierrez, an assistant at Cal State Dominguez Hills last season, has been named women’s softball coach at the school.

She replaces Janis Ruetz, who resigned in August after guiding the Toros to a 126-82-3 record the past four seasons--the most victories of any softball coach in school history. Ruetz resigned to become director of adaptive physical education for the Palm Springs Unified School District.

Gutierrez, 25, has been successful as a player and coach.

She was a pitcher at Artesia High, Cerritos College and Cal State Bakersfield. At Bakersfield, she helped lead the Roadrunners to the 1988 NCAA Division II national championship.

Gutierrez assisted at Dominguez Hills last season, when the Toros finished 31-17.

“Being a young coach, I’m very excited about the opportunity to prove myself at this level,” Gutierrez said.

After snapping a four-match losing streak with a victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Wednesday, the Loyola Marymount women’s volleyball team will open its West Coast Conference season with two matches in the Pacific Northwest.

The Lions (7-6) will visit Gonzaga at 7 tonight and Portland at 7 p.m. Saturday. Portland is 11-5 and Gonzaga is 5-7.

Loyola defeated San Luis Obispo, 18-16, 15-13, 12-15, 17-15. Freshman middle blocker Julie Greer led the way with 21 kills and freshman outside hitter Amy Moeller added 17 kills and 24 digs.

Sophomore setter Robin Ortgiesen, a former Mira Costa High standout, ranks ninth in the nation in assists at 12.86 a game.

The Lions may be have to play without outside hitter Deanna Doolittle. The junior, who ranks among the all-time conference leaders in kills, missed the San Luis Obispo match because of a lower back injury and is listed as questionable for the matches against Gonzaga and Portland.

The Lions return home Wednesday for a match against Cal State Northridge at 7 p.m.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s soccer team will travel to Cal Poly Pomona for a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game at 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Toros are 4-5-1 and 1-2-1 in the CCAA.

Dominguez Hills tied the nation’s sixth-ranked team in NCAA Division II, Cal State Los Angeles, 2-2, on Saturday.

Boys and girls ages 8-16 are eligible to participate in the United States Tennis Assn./National Junior Tennis League program that is under way at Victoria Park in Carson.

The first session, which started this week, runs through Nov. 20. The second session is from Jan. 18 to March 12 and the third is from April 12 to June 4.

The cost is $5 and includes a T-shirt.

The program, geared toward disadvantaged youths, will offer 18 hours of instruction for each participant.

Information: Earmer Cardin at (310) 327-2930.

The Leukemia Society of America and the El Segundo Police Department will conduct the third annual Roger’s Run 10-K for all ages on Oct. 31 in El Segundo.

The race, which promotes the need for bone marrow donors, will wind through the streets of El Segundo and onto a portion of the Century Freeway that is under construction.

Information: Shirley Tyler at (213) 724-4582.

The South Bay Girls Basketball Club for children ages 8-13 will begin its third season with registration Saturday at Peninsula High.

Participants ages 12 and 13 can register at 1 p.m. Those 11 and younger can register at 3 p.m.

The cost is $45 for the first month and $40 for each month thereafter.

Workouts will stress fundamentals. Traveling teams will be selected in March.

Information: Wendell Yoshida at (310) 318-5491.

Several of the world’s top-ranked men and women wheelchair tennis players will compete in a tournament that begins today at the South End Racquet and Health Club in Torrance.

The tournament, which runs through Sunday, will offer a purse in excess of $15,000. The tournament is open to the public and donations will be accepted for general admission. Proceeds will benefit Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation. Information: (310) 325-3202.