Sports : NOTEBOOK / KIRBY LEE : Area Coach Is Honored by Magazine

Eleanor Dykstra of Village Christian High has been named state Coach of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports magazine. Dykstra earned her 300th coaching victory in leading the Crusaders to the Southern Section Division IV-A basketball title and also guided the softball team to the Division V championship.

The publication selected Danielle Scott of Long Beach State its college women’s Athlete of the Year. Scott was chosen as the NCAA volleyball Player of the Year after leading the 49ers to the national championship and was an All-Big West Conference selection in basketball.

Ricky Carrigan of Merritt College was named the state junior college men’s Athlete of the Year. The Compton High graduate won the 100 and 200 meters in the State community college track championships in May to become the first athlete to win the events in two different years. He also won the 100 and 200 while attending Compton College in 1992.

Jelani Gardner of St. John Bosco and Long Beach Little League pitcher Sean Burroughs were selected as the boys’ basketball and youth Players of the Year.

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Former St. John Bosco shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was the 12th pick overall in the major league baseball draft last month.

Garciaparra, who was selected by the Boston Red Sox, batted .427 and had 16 home runs and 33 stolen bases at Georgia Tech last season.

Outfielders Juan Rocha and Santos Cortez and catcher Jason Hill of Cerritos College were drafted by the Kansas City Royals, Florida Marlins and Seattle Marlins, respectively.

Catcher Adam Milan of Cal State Fullerton and pitcher Tony Nieto of USC, former players at Schurr High, were drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds.

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Michael Palumbo of La Mirada, Ryan Matthews of Cerritos and Marquis Nave of Lakewood will participate in the Air 7 Quarterback Challenge on Saturday night at 6 at Wilson High.

Competition includes a distance toss, read and react, speed and agility drills.

Information: (310) 398-4746.