Chatsworth’s Wallace to Draw Start for Cubs

Former Chatsworth High standout Derek Wallace is scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs tonight at Comiskey Park in the team’s annual crosstown exhibition game with the Chicago White Sox.

Wallace, a first-round draft pick last year from Pepperdine, was promoted for the game from the Cubs’ class-A team in Daytona, Fla.

Former Canyon High baseball star Ray Palagyi has signed a contract to play professionally in Holland. Palagyi, who also played at College of the Canyons and UC Santa Barbara, led the nation in triples (five) 28 games into the 1991 college season when the right fielder broke his throwing arm attempting to throw out a runner.

He missed the rest of the season and despite a .335 average and 26 RBIs did not get drafted. Palagyi hopes his stint with the Haarlem Nicols will draw the attention of scouts who ignored him after his injury.

Football

Lee Ciuffitelli of Camarillo High, an All-Southern Section kicker who made 13 field goals and totaled 65 points last season, said he will attend Fresno State as a walk-on.

Ciuffitelli, who also earned All-Ventura County and All-Marmonte League honors, said he will attempt to gain a scholarship in the fall.

“I would say I have a pretty good chance of getting a scholarship,” Ciuffitelli said. “I saw the school and talked to the coaches. They have a senior kicker up there and they seemed pretty interested in me.”

Ciuffitelli made 26 of 28 extra points last season to help lead the Scorpions to a surprising second-place finish. Ciuffitelli made a 50-yard field goal against Agoura.

Matt Volk, an All-Western State Conference guard at Moorpark College, will play at Division II Lindenwood (Mo.) College next season. Volk, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound graduate of Westlake High, has accepted an academic scholarship.

Hockey

The Thousand Oaks Thunder, a youth team, won the California Midget championship in its division (ages 16-17) Sunday in Fresno.

Coached by Tom Sherak, the team was 3-0 in round-robin play, outscoring its opponents, 30-7, in the tournament. Tyson Fritz and Justin Sigriest scored six goals each for the Thunder, and Brian Lee added four goals and seven assists. Goalie Bobby Lloyd played all three games.

Miscellany

Five area athletes have been named as finalists for the California Interscholastic Federation’s scholar-athlete awards.

The list of 10 boys’ finalists includes Kevin Gold of Chatsworth High, a basketball player, and Jared Halverson, a wide receiver from the Hart football team.

Vivian Shu of the Agoura swim team, Nada Kawar of the Crescenta Valley track team and Cori Miller of the Glendale swim team are among the 10 girls’ finalists.

The 20 finalists were selected from a group of 535 candidates. One male and one female winner will be announced Monday and recognized at the state track and field championships on June 5 at Cerritos College.

Crespi High has been selected by members of the Mission League as its sportsmanship award winner for the 1992-93 school year. The award is given annually to one school in each Southern Section league.

Senior pitcher Jeff Suppan will receive the award on behalf of Crespi at Dodger Stadium on May 19, before a game between the Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. Other designated honorees also will be in attendance. The award is largely based on fan participation, school spirit and player sportsmanship.

Teri Rupe, softball coach at Cal Lutheran, has resigned effective at the conclusion of the season. Rupe, 85-32-1 in three seasons, said she has decided to pursue other career opportunities.

John Anthony, Cal Lutheran’s sports information director for 2 1/2 years, also has resigned. He and his family are moving to Dallas, where he said he will pursue a job in major league baseball.

Rod Poindexter, the school’s trainer for seven years, will take a leave of absence next year to pursue his doctorate of education administration and higher education at Nevada Las Vegas. Kecia Davis will take over training duties in Poindexter’s absence.

Matt Fisher, a senior at Harvard-Westlake, won the under-19 epee title at the Junior Pacific Coast fencing championships, going undefeated in the final round and automatically gaining entry into the national championships.