Baseball

Catcher Gregg Zaun, the nephew of former major league catcher Rick Dempsey, has signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, the team announced Wednesday.

Zaun, a 22-year-old St. Francis High product, split time last season between double-A Bowie and triple-A Rochester. He was named to the Eastern League all-star team for Bowie before he was promoted to Rochester.

Zaun hit .256 with one home run and 11 runs batted in at Rochester, where he hit safely in all 10 postseason games in which he played.

The Mid-Valley Pony baseball league will hold sign-ups for boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 16 at its complex at Oxnard Street and Louise Avenue in Van Nuys.

Dates and times for the sign-ups are Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sign-ups also will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 22, 23, 29 and 30.

Information: 818-708-8988.

Six of the eight Cuban players who have defected since 1991, several other Valley-area players and former Dodger third baseman Ron Cey will participate in a charity game Sunday at Glendale High at 1 p.m.

Among the minor leaguers who will play are former Canyons and Sacramento State pitcher Roland De La Maza (Cleveland Indians); former Moorpark College catcher Del Marine (Detroit Tigers); pitcher Ivan Alvarez (San Francisco Giants), and infielder Osmani Estrada and outfielder Alexis Cabreja (Texas Rangers).

Admission is free but donations will be accepted for Brothers for the Rescue, a Miami-based organization that helps Cubans seeking political asylum in the United States.

Information: 310-247-8898.