SPORTS BRIEFS : 4 Prep Teams Honored for High Grades

Scholar Athletes--Four teams from area high schools have been honored for achieving the highest grade-point average in their respective sports among the more than 500 schools in the CIF Southern Section.

They are the Millikan girls cross-country team (3.80), Whitney girls swimming (3.66) and volleyball (3.63) teams, and the Wilson water polo team (3.49).

The annual awards are based on cumulative grade-point averages of team members in 23 sports. To be considered, a team had to maintain a minimum average of 3.0 in college-prep courses last fall.

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Baseball All-Stars--Five players from area colleges have been chosen to the All-South Coast Conference community college baseball team.

They are pitcher Jake Viano of Long Beach City College, who had a 4-2 record and 2.19 earned-run average; infielder Miguel Inzunza of Long Beach, who batted .347; infielder Steve Soper of Cerritos, who batted .431; outfielder Bryce Christiansen of Cerritos, who batted .333; and utility player Neil Sauerheber of Long Beach, who hit .338.

Second-team honors went to pitcher Tim Walton of Cerritos, catcher Dave Olivas of Long Beach, outfielder Tony Miranda of Cerritos and utility player Marcus McCain of Long Beach.

Honorable mention went to pitcher Aaron D’Aoust of Long Beach, catcher Bill Moore of Cerritos and outfielder Dwight Lewis of Long Beach.

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Softball Awards--Champion Long Beach City College swept the top three awards in voting for the All-South Coast Conference softball team.

Sophomore catcher Chris Kraus was chosen the league’s player of the year. She was a defensive standout who picked off five runners, including three at third base.

Sophomore right-hander Nicki Kephart was the conference pitcher of the year. She was 14-0 and did not give up an earned run.

Patty Gasso, who directed the Vikings to a sweep of their 15-game conference schedule, was selected coach of the year.

First-team honors also went to Vikings Hilda Alfaro, Jill Cusick, Paula Libby, Stacy Maciel, Kraus and Kephart.

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Basketball Recruits--Cal State Long Beach has announced the signings of six men’s and women’s basketball players.

The men’s team signed three post players: 6-foot-8 Gary Branner, a transfer from Belleville Area Community College in Illinois; 6-9 Bart Gijbels of Belgium, a transfer from Western Nebraska Community College; and Joe McNaull, a 6-11 All-Western Athletic Conference center who is transferring from San Diego State.

McNaull will redshirt during the 1993-94 season, and have one year of playing eligibility remaining.

The three women’s recruits are 5-6 point guard Aimee Periolat of Marina High in Huntington Beach; 5-10 All-Southern Section forward Adara Newidouski of Dana Hills High in Dana Point; and 5-6 guard Michelle Miller, an all-state selection who is a transfer from De Anza College in Cupertino.

The men’s team announced that it will play in the Hawkeye Classic Tournament Dec. 3 and 4 at the University of Iowa. The 49ers also will play Dec. 22 in New Jersey against Fairleigh Dickinson, the alma mater of Coach Seth Greenberg.

The men’s Big West Conference schedule opens with a trip to Nevada Las Vegas and New Mexico State.