Softball Pitcher Pope Transfers to Northridge

Pitcher Jackie Pope has signed a letter of intent to play softball for Cal State Northridge after being granted a release from her scholarship at Oklahoma State, where she played this past spring.

Pope is the second player in seven days to leave another Division I program to play for the Matadors. Ashlie Hayes, a Chaminade High graduate and former Massachusetts infielder, signed with Northridge last week.

Pope, a right-hander, was 1-1 with a 3.92 earned-run average this past season.

Northridge Coach Janet Sherman recruited Pope out of Live Oak High in Sacramento, where Pope threw 25 no-hitters and had 936 strikeouts.

“She’s a down-ball pitcher. . . . exactly what we needed to complement the other two [riseball] pitchers that we already have,” Sherman said.

The Southern California Stealth, an 18-and-under Gold Division team based in the Valley, was unbeaten in five games in a national qualifying tournament in Big Bear last weekend.

The Stealth qualified for the national tournament in Stockton, July 31-Aug. 4.

Baseball

Kennedy High seniors Jon Garland, Josh Miranda and David Lusk were selected to play in the Area Code games next month in Long Beach.

Others chosen include Jeff Bannon of Camarillo, Andy Davidson of Hart, Alberto Flores of Birmingham, Ryan Hamill of Chaminade, Bill Scott and Jason Westemeir of Alemany, and Mike Schultz of Cleveland.

Golf

Ted Lehmann of Westlake Village lost to Brad Stormon, 3 and 1, in the quarterfinals of the Southern California PGA match play championship at the San Gabriel Country Club.

Todd Golditch of Chatsworth High won a SCPGA qualifier at Victoria Country Club in Riverside with a two-round total of 140 to qualify for a junior national tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla. next month.

Contributing: Michael Lazarus, Paige A. Leech, Bryan Rodgers.