Kennedy’s Tagliaferri Picks Cal State Long Beach

Suddenly, Jeff Tagliaferri has become a very popular ballplayer.

After waiting impatiently all season for a college scholarship offer, Tagliaferri last week was offered partial scholarships to Cal State Long Beach and Wyoming.

“On the same day,” he said.

Tagliaferri, an All-City Section first baseman from Kennedy, said he plans to sign a letter of intent with Long Beach.

Tagliaferri batted .456 with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 34 runs batted in for the Golden Cougars. He was selected co-most valuable player of the North Valley League.

Tagliaferri was drafted in the 38th round by the San Francisco Giants earlier this month, but said he likely will attend college instead.

Baseball

Cal State Northridge is ranked 15th in the final Collegiate Baseball Division I Poll, released Monday.

The Matadors, who finished 36-20, were the only team from Southern California besides No. 3 Cal State Long Beach in the top 15.

CSUN shortstop Andy Hodgins was named second-team GTE Academic All-American. A business major, Hodgins had a 3.34 grade-point average and batted .328.

Cycling

Shawn Cronkhite of Chatsworth placed first in the California District Criterium Championship on Sunday in Rancho Cucamonga. The race was a 90-minute timed event.

Cronkhite has been named to the West team for the Olympic Festival next month in San Antonio.

Volleyball

Cal Lutheran alumnus James Park was named women’s volleyball coach, returning to his alma mater.

He coached the boys’ team at Thousand Oaks High the past two seasons, leading the Lancers to the Southern Section quarterfinals this year. He previously coached the girls’ team at Moorpark High, compiling a 75-45 record.

Basketball

Royal High named Larry Wiksell boys’ varsity basketball coach, replacing Ira Sollod, who resigned after the 1992-93 season.

Wiksell, 25, played at Newbury Park High, was a junior college All-American guard at Ventura College, and went on to play for Coach Gene Bartow at Alabama Birmingham.

Wiksell was Sollod’s assistant the past two seasons. Before that, he coached the boys’ sophomore team at Newbury Park and the boys’ junior varsity team at Thousand Oaks High.