Hoover Softball Coach Suspended Over Funds

Kirt Kohlmeier has been suspended as Hoover High softball coach pending an investigation by the Glendale Unified School District regarding a possible shortage of program funds, a district spokesman said.

Kohlmeier, 42, softball coach for the past eight seasons and the school’s boys’ basketball coach for 17 years, was suspended March 1 after at least one parent complained to administrators about the cost of uniforms players were expected to pay.

The suspension does not affect Kohlmeier’s status as a teacher or as basketball coach, Hoover Athletic Director Randy Tiffany said.

Debbie Rinder, the Hoover girls’ basketball coach, has been named interim softball coach. Kohlmeier could not be reached for comment.

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Sophomore pitcher Christina Baioa has left the Cal State Northridge team and is seeking a transfer, Coach Janet Sherman said Tuesday. Baioa, who had pitched only two-thirds of an inning, left the team before a Feb. 29-March 3 trip to Georgia. Sherman said Baioa will seek a medical redshirt season because she suffered a back injury in a car accident last summer.

Baseball

Cleveland High junior pitcher Jared Mills underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a collapsed lung and should be ready to pitch in about two weeks, said his father, Cavalier assistant Jim Mills.

Mills, who shut out Canoga Park last week, was hospitalized Friday and apparently had recovered before suffering a relapse Monday. It is the fourth time he has suffered a collapsed lung.

Pepperdine left-hander Randy Wolf has been invited to try out for Team USA along with 20 other collegiate players. Spring camp will begin May 29 at the team’s national training site in Millington, Tenn.

Wolf, a sophomore from El Camino Real High, is 3-1 with an earned-run average of 1.96.

Basketball

Sophomore point guard Marina Torres of Ventura College has been named junior college women’s state co-player of the year with Kim Martinez of Sacramento.

Also named to the all-state team were guards Tori Anderson of Ventura and Shawanda Hotchkiss of Valley.

Ventura’s Ned Mircetic was women’s co-coach of the year.

Named to the men’s all-state team were sophomore forward Damian Cantrell and sophomore guard Gerald Zimmerman of Ventura, and Antelope Valley guard Jerome Payton. Santa Monica’s Damon Ollie, from North Hollywood High, also was a first-team pick.

Ice Lincoln, a 6-3 forward from Santa Monica College, said Monday she will sign to play for Cal State Northridge. Lincoln, who also considered Nevada Las Vegas, Arizona and New Mexico State, averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Corsairs.

Saugus High girls’ Coach Laurie Roland has resigned, saying she wants to spend more time with her infant son. Roland, 40, coached the Centurions for five seasons. She took a leave of absence to give birth to her first child late this season.

Junior forward Carloes Harper of Canoga Park High and senior forward Onaje Longmire of Van Nuys were named Mid-Valley League co-players of the year.

Football

Robert Crosby, a former Cal State Northridge defensive back, has signed with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League, Barnstormer defensive coordinator Art Haege said. Crosby played at Northridge in 1993 and 1994.

Track and Field

A memorial service for Saugus High distance runner Jennifer Dolan will be held at Eternal Valley Mortuary in Newhall at 3:30 p.m. today.

Dolan, a senior, was killed in a car accident Friday night.

Soccer

Hugo Llamas of Santa Paula High has been named Frontier League player of the year. Santa Paula’s Victor Meza is the defensive player of the year, and David Appel of Calabasas and Oscar Crisosto of Santa Paula are the offensive co-players of the year.

Pete Vagenas of St. Francis has been named Mission League co-player of the year with Loyola’s Justin Bell. John Macdonald of Alemany is offensive player of the year, and senior Chris Dinse of Alemany is goalkeeper of the year.

Contributing: Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Steve Henson, Vince Kowalick, Michael Lazarus, Paige A. Leech, Tris Wykes.