Sheffield, McGriff Honored

As expected, Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield on Tuesday was named Major League Player of the Year and National League Comeback Player of the year by the Sporting News.

The national sports tabloid also picked Sheffield’s teammate, Fred McGriff, as its National League All-Star at first base.

SOCCER

San Diego State’s soccer team, a Division I program, had a difficult time with NAIA Christian Heritage, but pulled away from a second-half tie for a 4-2 victory.

After Rueben Oliveira and Jack Holt scored in the first half for the Aztecs, Christian Heritage came back with goals from Karl Downer and Bob Thayer to tie the score with a 30 minutes remaining.

But SDSU (9-6-1) squeaked out the victory as Holt got his second goal with 12 minutes remaining and Aaron Jarvis scored with four minutes left.

Point Loma Nazarene College and Azusa Pacific played to a 2-2 tie. PLNC took the initial lead 17 minutes into the game as Rodrigo da Matta converted a pass from Socrates Scatolini.

With 30 minutes remaining in regulation, Azusa Pacific tied it on a goal from Carl Stoehr.

Each team scored on a penalty kick in overtime, with Scatolini getting PLNC’s.

Point Loma Nazarene moved to 4-8-2, 1-4-2 in the Golden State Athletic Conference, and Azusa Pacific went to 9-6-2, 6-1-2.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Kristine Smith of the University of San Diego won her first-round match in qualifying play at the All-American Championships at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades but lost in the second round.

She was defeated by Amanda Gregory of Wisconsin, 6-3, 6-4. Another USD player, Paula Hansen, lost her first-round match.

The main draw begins Thursday, which is when USD’s Julie McKeon and Laura Richards will begin singles and doubles play. The pair is the No. 3-seeded team.