Taft Pitcher Siegel to Miss Part of Season After Surgery

Taft High left-hander Justin Siegel, who earned an NCAA Division I baseball scholarship, has undergone elbow surgery and will miss part of the 1993 season.

Siegel had scar tissue and bone chips removed from his left elbow last week and will be sidelined from pitching indefinitely. Siegel signed a letter of intent with North Carolina State during the NCAA’s early signing period last fall.

Siegel (5-foot-11, 155 pounds) was 7-3 with an earned-run average of 3.00 as a junior.

Siegel, 17, said he will begin physical therapy next week and hopes to play in the outfield or at first base while his arm is healing. He is not expected to pitch for four months.

“I just want to play,” he said. “I really want to play my senior year.”

Cal State Northridge’s men’s and women’s track and field teams are ranked fifth in a preseason dual-meet poll of teams from California and Nevada.

The Matador men are fifth behind UCLA, California, USC and Fresno State. The Northridge women rank behind UCLA, USC, Fresno State and UC Irvine.

The Northridge baseball team’s opener against UC Santa Barbara was postponed Tuesday. The UCSB field was unplayable because of recent rain. The game will be rescheduled although a date has not been determined. As a result, Northridge’s opener will be played at 1 p.m. Friday at the University of San Diego.

CSUN’s softball doubleheader against UCLA has been rescheduled from today to Thursday at 1 p.m. in Westwood.

The junior college baseball game between Valley and Mission that was postponed Tuesday because of wet grounds will be played today at 2 p.m. at the El Cariso Sports Complex in Sylmar.

Ventura’s game at L.A. City that was postponed Tuesday has been rescheduled for Monday at 2 p.m.

The Milwaukee Brewers will hold an open free-agent tryout Feb. 28 at Compadre Stadium in Chandler, Ariz., for players between the ages of 16 and 22.

Information: 818-769-5183 or 414-933-4114.