SIGNINGS : Leppard Makes San Diego His Choice

Senior right-hander Trevor Leppard of Simi Valley High ended weeks of wooing by dozens of Division I colleges by signing a letter of intent to attend University of San Diego.

Leppard, who pitched a four-hitter with 14 strikeouts Wednesday in a 4-0 Marmonte League victory over Royal, signed later that evening with San Diego Coach John Cunningham, moments after a game between San Diego and UCLA at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

“I liked their academic program,” Leppard said. “It’s a small campus and they’re a top-ranked team with a good coaching staff. And I know I’m going to be able to play in my freshman year.”

Leppard (6-feet-2, 185 pounds) is 5-1 with 61 strikeouts and a 1.24 earned-run average in 50 2/3 innings this season. He had drawn interest from 65 Division I schools, including USC, UCLA, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Long Beach, Arizona and San Jose State. He made recruiting visits to USC, Northridge, West Point and San Diego.

As a junior, Leppard was 7-3 with four saves and a 3.67 ERA in 40 innings.

“I feel relieved,” Leppard said. “It feels good to know that I’m going somewhere and don’t have to worry about impressing anyone.”

Brett Callan, a 6-foot, 195-pound sophomore catcher from San Diego Mesa College, said Thursday that he expects to sign a letter of intent with Cal State Northridge today.

In 25 games this season, Callan is batting .340 with 18 runs batted in, one home run and 15 stolen bases in 21 attempts.

The Point Loma High graduate attended California on a football scholarship in 1991. He transferred to Mesa last fall and will have two years of eligibility at Northridge.

Brad Schwan, a 6-6, 235-pound All-Marmonte League center at Westlake High, has accepted an appointment to West Point.

Schwan, who averaged team-high totals of 16.9 points and 8.4 rebounds, will try out for the basketball team and major in pre-law, Westlake Coach Gary Grayson said.

Schwan was a second-team All-Ventura County selection.

Ralph Radka, an All-Ventura County goaltender who helped Royal High to the Southern Section water polo semifinals each of the past two years, also has accepted an appointment to West Point.

Radka, Royal’s team captain, carries a 4.50 grade-point average.