Baseball

Tim Laker, a former Simi Valley High standout, was optioned to Ottawa of the triple-A International League on Thursday by the Montreal Expos.

Laker, who has not played at the triple-A level, had a strong spring but batted only .176 (three for 17) as the No. 1 catcher to start the season. “We want him to play every day and get some swings where there is less catchers and less pressure,” Expos Manager Felipe Alou said. “We want him to get more seasoning.”

Basketball

Twelve area high school players are among the 60 from Southern California who will play in an all-star doubleheader starting at 6:30 tonight at Los Angeles City College.

El Camino Real’s Markee Brown and Sam Sarpong, Canoga Park’s Demond Callahan, Arthur Bradford and Glenn Davis, North Hollywood’s Lafayette Baker and Marcus Sanders, Sylmar’s Deon Price, Monroe’s Tweedy Stiner and Marco Rich, Ribet Academy’s Caleb Granger, and Glendale’s Paul Chin are scheduled to play.

Monroe Coach Paul Graber and Ribet Coach Ernest Daily will coach two of the four teams.