Ruggiero, 16, Makes Women’s U.S. Ice Hockey Team

Angela Ruggiero of Simi Valley was named to the women’s national ice hockey team this week.

Ruggiero, 16, is the youngest member of the team and could play in the 1998 Winter Olympics at Nagano, Japan, where women’s ice hockey will be a medal sport for the first time.

Ruggiero is a defenseman for Choate Rosemary Hall (Conn.), a private high school, and the Connecticut Polar Bears, a girls’ amateur all-star team.

Basketball

Kelvin Gibbs, a 6-foot-6 1/2 forward from Bellflower High, said he has orally committed to attend Pepperdine. The signing period for high school seniors begins next Wednesday.

Gibbs averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots this season, and was named Suburban League most valuable player.

Shannon Johnson transferred from North Hollywood High to Palisades last month, Husky Coach Steve Miller said.

Johnson, a 6-7 junior who also has attended Faith Baptist and Canoga Park, changed residences, leaving his father’s home in Van Nuys to live with his mother in Los Angeles.

The center, whose eligibility is in question because he already has used his one open enrollment transfer, averaged 20.2 points and 11.6 rebounds for the Huskies.

Area players Lindy James of Village Christian High, Kim Whisler of Paraclete, Christie Rosenblad of Fillmore, Becky Witt of Louisville and Julie Arundell of Fillmore have been named to the Southern Section Division IV girls’ basketball team.

Julie Siefert and Karen Breshears of Cornerstone Christian were first-team selections on the Division V team.

Girls’ Coach Len Locher will not be retained by Westlake High, the school announced. Locher was 47-62 in four years and took the Warriors to the Southern Section playoffs this season.

Locher, a walk-on coach, branded the dismissal as unfair and said he is considering legal action against the school.

Bob Davidson has resigned as boys’ coach at Glendale High after nine seasons. Davidson, who led the Dynamiters to two Pacific League titles and six playoff appearances, said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Baseball

Simi Valley High has forfeited a nonleague baseball victory against Burroughs for using a pitcher more than 10 innings in one week, a violation of Southern Section rules. Sophomore Scott Vermette pitched eight innings in Saturday’s 9-6 victory in the second game of a doubleheader. Vermette pitched 2 2/3 innings against Royal earlier in the week. Simi Valley’s record is 3-8-1. Burroughs is 9-2-1.

Contributing: Mike Bresnahan, Rob Fernas, Steve Henson, Vince Kowalick, Paige A. Leech, Tris Wykes.