City Seeks New Venue for Finals in Basketball

With City Section basketball finals only three weeks away, finding a place to play those championship games has become a top priority for Commissioner Barbara Fiege.

The four City finals--two boys’ and two girls’ divisional games--have previously been played at the Sports Arena, but considering the $43,000 fee, Fiege would rather shop around.

She would like to see the finals return to UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion, site of the 1980 championship games. The move could save the section as much as $30,000.

Fiege is meeting with UCLA officials this morning and an announcement should follow by afternoon.

The City winds up its regular season games Friday and playoff pairings will be announced Saturday.

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Van Nuys High girls’ player Lynne Berry has left the team for personal reasons, Coach Tony Magnante said.

Berry, a 5-foot-7 freshman, was a starting forward for the Wolves.

Baseball

A nonconference baseball game between Cal State Northridge and Cal State L.A. was postponed Wednesday because of wet grounds at Matador Field.

The game has been rescheduled for Feb. 23 at 2 p.m.

Another make-up date also was set. Northridge’s season opener against UC Riverside, which was postponed because of rain, will be played March 29 at 7 p.m. at Riverside.

Northridge is 6-1. Cal State L.A. and Riverside are both NCAA Division II schools.

Miscellany

Cal State Northridge athletes Jon Baer and Andrea Stevenson were named Matadors of the month by the Student Athlete Congress.

Baer, a senior middle blocker on the men’s volleyball team, had 65 kills in two matches. He was also named player of the week by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn.

Stevenson, a sophomore swimmer, posted season best times in the 200, 500, 1000 and 1650-yard freestyle events during January.

Softball

Open tryouts for the Santa Clarita Sharks’ 12-and-under fastpitch team are Sunday, Feb. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Castaic Sports Complex. Information: 805-259-8668.

* Contributing: Dave Desmond, Paige A. Leech and Bryan Rodgers.