Shonka 1st in SCGA Net Qualifying

Len Shonka of Glendale shot a net 70 Wednesday to finish in a tie for first in the top tier of qualifying for the Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Net Championship.

Shonka tied Tim Leary of Pacific Palisades in qualifying in the President’s Flight at Sundale Country Club in Bakersfield. The flight is for players with handicaps of 3.5 to 7.4.

The SCGA Amateur Net Championship is May 1-2 at Monterey and Palm Valley country clubs in Palm Desert.

In the Vice President’s Flight (handicaps of 7.5 to 12.4), Al Landy of Agoura shot 68 to earn one of four berths.

Daniel Robbins of Lancaster shot 70 to earn one of six berths in the Secretary’s Flight (12.5 to 18.4) and Jim Henson of Encino shot 66 to lead all qualifiers in the Treasurer’s Flight (18.5 to 24.4).

Water Polo

Jimmy Duff of Harvard-Westlake, The Times’ area water polo player of the year, has committed to play at UCLA, his mother, Margaret, said Wednesday night.

Duff could not be reached for comment.

Duff, a driver, chose UCLA over Cal and UC San Diego because he wanted to stay in the area, his mother said.

Duff was a unanimous selection to the All-Southern Section Division I team and he was the Mission League’s most valuable player. Duff was also picked to the 50-member U.S. junior national water polo training squad, for players ages 17 to 19.

The highlights of his senior season included 12 goals in two games against eventual Division I champion Long Beach Wilson and eight goals in a game against runner-up Corona del Mar. Defensively, he allowed players he was covering to score just 10 goals all season.

Baseball

Palmdale High catcher Chris Paxton will sign a letter of intent to play at Cal State Northridge, he said Wednesday.

Paxton, a 6-foot-2, left-handed hitter, said he also considered South Dakota State.

He said he chose Northridge because it was close to home and because he liked Matador Coach Bill Kernen.

“He seemed like a good coach to me,” Paxton said. “He knew what he was talking about. He has a successful program. And he’s a big disciplinarian, which I like.”

Soccer

Chaminade midfielder Shelbi Thiele has orally committed to play at UC San Diego.

A first-team All-Mission League selection for the Eagles, Thiele began the season at forward, but eventually moved to midfield. She helped Chaminade to a 16-5-4 record, its first Mission League championship and a berth in the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Thiele scored 11 goals and had seven assists. She chose the Tritons, an NCAA Division III power, over the University of the Pacific.

Softball

The California Stealth is seeking 12-year-olds for a traveling softball club that will play 60-80 games this season.

Information: 818-789-5094.

Tryouts for the Valencia Raiders, a 14-under softball team, will be held Sunday.

Information: 818-890-9966.

Contributing: Steve Elling, Jeff Fletcher, Bryan Rodgers, Tris Wykes.