CSUN Makes Big West Overture in Baseball, Softball

Cal State Northridge has officially expressed interest to the Big West Conference in joining as a part-time member in baseball and softball, Matador Athletic Director Paul Bubb said.

Big West officials will give the applications a first read at their meeting Wednesday in Las Vegas. The soonest a decision could be made is Jan. 7 at the Big West’s meeting at the NCAA convention.

This will be the final spring in the Western Athletic Conference for Northridge in both sports.

The Big Sky Conference, which Northridge is joining next fall in most sports, does not include baseball or softball.

Cross-Country

Kim Mortensen of Thousand Oaks High has been selected the Ventura County girls’ runner of the year, and Will Bernaldo of Nordhoff and Todd Disney of Thousand Oaks have been honored as the boys’ co-runners of the year in voting by the Ventura County Cross-Country Coaches Assn.

Mortensen, a senior, broke seven course records this season, won the Ventura County, Marmonte League and Southern Section Division I titles, and placed second in the state Division I and Foot Locker West regional championships.

Bernaldo, a senior, finished 15th in the Ventura County championships after missing the previous two meets because of mononucleosis, but he followed with victories in the Frontier League and Southern Section Division III finals. He also placed third in the State Division III championships and a surprising seventh in last week’s West regional.

Disney, a senior, won the Ventura County and Marmonte League titles, placed second in the Southern Section Division I championships and was third in the State Division I race. He finished 22nd in the West regional.

Mortensen and Bernaldo have qualified for Saturday’s national championships at San Diego’s Morley Field.

Nordhoff’s Ken Reeves was named coach of the year for boys and girls.

Reeves, who is in his 11th season, guided both Ranger teams to victories in the Ventura County championships and in the Division III races of the Southern Section and State championships.

Women’s Volleyball

Ventura College’s Miki McFadden has been named coach of the year in the Western State Conference North Division after leading the Pirates to an 11-3 record.

Named to the all-division first team from Ventura were Tacy Franklin, Brandi Keeter and Beth Su. Also selected to the team was Moorpark’s Jenny Mangells.

The WSC All-South Division selections included Glendale’s Monica Pongracz, Pierce’s Christine Ryan and Canyons’ Laura Wagonner.

Contributing: Fernando Dominguez, Jeff Fletcher, John Ortega.