Carter, Saindon Named Orange County Athletes of the Year

Saddleback basketball player Anthony Carter and Cypress softball player Christa Saindon have been named Orange County community college athletes of the year.

Carter, a sophomore guard from Crimm High in Atlanta, was the co-most valuable player in the Orange Empire Conference for the second consecutive season.

He averaged a state-best 27.6 points a game and was the leading scorer in 33 of Saddleback’s 36 games. Carter, who led Saddleback to the state tournament, has signed to play at Hawaii next season.

Saindon, a shortstop from Cypress High, hit .409 and set a Cypress record with nine home runs. She also scored 60 runs. She will attend Cal State Northridge next season.

The athletes were selected in a vote of sports information directors.

Bill Cunerty, who coached Saddleback to a division title in football and a conference and state title in golf, was selected the men’s coach of the year.

Saddleback’s Jack Single, who led the women’s basketball team to a 31-1 record, was the women’s coach of the year. The Gauchos’ only loss came in the state title game against Ventura.

*

Hired: John Goldman has been hired to take over the Orange Coast men’s and women’s cross-country teams.

Goldman, a USC graduate, has been El Dorado High coach since 1993. Goldman, 28, replaces Gordie Fitzel, who stepped down after last season.

Mike Santo has been hired to coach Saddleback’s first women’s water polo team, which starts play Sept. 17 at Orange Coast.

He has been an assistant on the men’s team and the coach of the women’s swim team the last five years.

*

Hired full-time: Irvine Valley announced that Jerry Hernandez has been given full-time status as the college’s basketball coach and a physical education teacher.

Hernandez, in a part-time position, led Irvine Valley to a 16-17 record last season. The Lasers were one of only two teams to beat Ventura, which won its second consecutive state title.

*

Signings: Several athletes have announced plans to move on.

Jon Lauderdale, a sophomore outfielder from Saddleback who was the co-most valuable in the state baseball tournament, has signed with San Jose State. He had a Saddleback single-season record 65 runs batted in this season. He is from Tustin High.

Heather Daze, the Orange Coast all-time kills leader, is headed to UC Irvine to continue her volleyball career. She is from Mater Dei High.

Geoff Wilson, an outfielder with the OCC baseball team, has signed with Pacific. Wilson, from Fountain Valley High, hit .305 and drove in 29 runs last season. He hit a combined .315 in two seasons at OCC.

Matt Burns, a linebacker at OCC, will play at Northern Iowa. Burns, from Newport Harbor High, had 90 tackles last season.

*

Honored: Keith Calkins, Saddleback’s athletic director the last 15 years, has been inducted into the American Amateur Racquetball Assn. Hall of Fame in Houston.

Calkins was honored for his contributions, including serving as the organization’s president and treasurer. He also was the president of the Pan American Racquetball Federation.

Chuck Cutenese, Orange Coast volleyball coach, has been selected the men’s coach of the year by the state coaches’ association.