Northridge Finds Some Good Help on Corner

Cornerback Nick Estrada, who played football at Texas El Paso but sat out last season, joined Cal State Northridge on Wednesday and should challenge for a starting job in the secondary.

“He’s good,” said Northridge cornerback coach Leroy Irvin. “We are lucky to have him.”

Estrada, 25, graduated from Faith Baptist High in 1988. He played at Moorpark College in 1991 and 1992 and got a scholarship to UTEP for 1993. Estrada (5 feet 9, 175 pounds) played on special teams and was a reserve cornerback.

Baseball

Former Reseda High baseball player Sean Hernandez, 19, died of massive chest injuries in a car accident early Wednesday in Reseda. Hernandez, a passenger, was one of five persons in the car and the only fatality.

“That’s a shock,” Reseda Coach Mike Stone said. “All the kids on the football team were in shock this morning. He played baseball for four years for us. The best thing I could say is he was a great all-around kid. I saw him grow up.”

Hernandez, who graduated in 1995, had been a varsity pitcher at Reseda the past three seasons.

Matt Ellis, general manager of the Lancaster-bound Riverside Pilots of the California League, said the minor league team’s new name will be announced in the next few weeks. Club officials are choosing from four names, each dealing with the aerospace industry. Ellis would not reveal the names.

The Master’s College will conduct a baseball card show Friday at 9 a.m. as a fund-raiser for its team. Former Dodgers Joe Ferguson, Lou Johnson and Maury Wills are scheduled to attend.

Information: 310-478-9818.

Ricky Helland and Mario Robledo of Buena High helped the Rancho Cucamonga Dodgers win the Continental Amateur Baseball Assn. championship last weekend.

Miscellany

Cal State Northridge has made an inquiry into Big West Conference membership for its baseball and softball teams in the event the teams are ousted from the Western Athletic Conference, which could happen next month, said Paul Bubb, interim athletic director.

WAC athletic directors recommended last week that part-time members be excluded in 1997 because the conference is expanding in full-time membership.

Dave Ford of Ojai won the World Body Surfing Championship in the 18-24 age division last week in Oceanside.

Contributing: Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Bryan Rodgers, Tris Wykes.