Engilman’s Penalty Is Upheld

The two-game suspension levied last week against Sylmar High football Coach Jeff Engilman by the City Section rules committee was upheld on appeal Tuesday, The Times learned.

Dick Browning, administrator for the Los Angeles Unified School District, upheld the ruling after hearing a personal appeal by Engilman and Sylmar administrators.

The rules committee determined that Engilman had illegal contact with San Fernando High linebacker Derrell Daniels in the Sylmar weight room and suspended Engilman for the Spartans’ first two nonconference games next season.

The committee also extended Sylmar’s current probation for another year, until Sept. 14, 1997.

Engilman declined comment on orders from the Sylmar administration.

Baseball

Four area players drafted earlier this month--shortstop Junior Brignac of Cleveland High, catcher Brian Luderer of Crespi, pitcher Tim Carr of Westlake and infielder Ryan Stromsborg of USC and Notre Dame High--have signed and will begin their professional careers next week.

Brignac, a third-round choice of the Atlanta Braves, signed for a bonus exceeding $300,000. Earlier, he accepted a football scholarship from Washington.

Stromsborg, a fourth-round choice of the Toronto Blue Jays, also received a bonus and money to complete his degree in economics.

“I don’t want to say specifically what I got, but Toronto has given me the luxury of being able to finish school,” said Stromsborg, who will play at Medicine Hat, Canada in the rookie Pioneer League.

Luderer, a 21st-round choice of the Oakland Athletics, passed up a scholarship to Oklahoma and will report to the Scottsdale A’s of the rookie Arizona League.

Carr, chosen in the 35th round by the New York Mets, passed up a partial scholarship to Arizona State and will report to Port St. Lucie, Fla., of the rookie Gulf Coast League.

Pitcher Chris Frith-Smith, who attended Pierce College and UC Santa Barbara, signed with Sioux Falls of the independent Northern League.

Four high school players from the region were named to the All-Southern Section Division V team: John Wilson and Seth Barkley (L.A. Baptist), Dan O’Gara (Paraclete) and Chris Goodenough (Fillmore).

Four area players made the Division VI team: Mike McKinney and Juan Valenca (Villanova Prep), T.J. Jackson (Buckley) and Dustin Wride (Providence).

Andrew Barber, a senior right-hander from Cal Lutheran, was chosen NCAA Division III third-team All-American.

Basketball

Paul Graber, who led the Monroe High boys’ team to the City Section 3-A final in 1993 and resigned two years later, will return to coach the Vikings.

Graber, who left Monroe after the 1994-95 season to get married and start a family, replaces his replacement, Allen Caveness, who resigned last week.

“I’m excited [about the job],” said Graber, who was 56-34 in four seasons at Monroe and was The Times’ Valley coach of the year in 1993.

Monroe, which was moved up to the 4-A Division two seasons ago, finished 14-6 and won the East Valley League title last season.

A camp for youngsters in third through eighth grades will be held at Canyon High on July 8-12.

Information: 805-255-4910.

Golf

Ross Fulgentis of Westlake Village is was in an eight-way tie for 12th place in the division for boys 15 to 18 years old after the first round of the Mission Hills Desert Junior championships Tuesday on the Dinah Shore tournament course at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.

Fulgentis, who shot a three-over-par 75, trails leader Michael Beard of Palm Desert by five strokes with three rounds left to play in the American Junior Golf Assn. event.

Chuck Ruiz of Sylmar had a 77 and is tied for 24th place.

In the girls’ division, Alicia Um of Newbury Park is in a three-way tie for ninth place after shooting a 77. She is eight strokes behind leader Julie Dunn of Las Vegas, who shot a career-best 69.

The top local player in the division for boys 13 and 14 years old is Justin Ohye of Calabasas, who shot an 80 and is in 11th place, seven strokes behind leader Brian Sinay of Irvine and James Oh of Lakewood.

Tennis

Tracy Talaid of Rosemead High has signed a letter of intent with the Cal State Northridge women’s team.

Track and Field

Cheree Hicks of Little Rock High signed with Cal State Northridge.

Hicks was a finalist in the shot put and the discus at this year’s State championships.

Swimming

Adrienne Scales of Louisville High signed Cal State Northridge.

Cross-Country

Pam Thompson was named coach at Saugus High and Jeff Gilkey will be her assistant.

Softball

Village Christian High’s starting lineup has been named to the first or second team in the All-Alpha League selections.

The first team includes most valuable player Jackie Aranda, a sophomore who batted .413 with six doubles and 26 runs batted. She was 10-6 with a 1.45 earned-run average for the league champions.

Other Crusaders on the first team are pitcher-outfielder Jessie Leivo, infielders Shandra Mahinay and Sarah Sutton, and outfielder Laura Robbins.

L.A. Baptist selections were pitcher Megan Petersen and infielder Eliza Voita.

Contributing: Mike Bresnahan, Steve Henson, Paige A. Leech, Bryan Rodgers, Peter Yoon.