Capistrano Valley’s Currier Selects USC

Capistrano Valley right-hander Rik Currier has orally committed to attend USC next fall, his father, Mark, said Wednesday.

Currier selected USC over UCLA and Pepperdine. He visited the three schools, the last one being USC, before making his decision Tuesday night.

Last season, Currier had a 9-3 record and 1.56 earned-run average for Capistrano Valley. He struck out 97 in 71 2/3 innings and was named to The Times Orange County’s first team. He pitched a no-hitter against Marina and handed Mater Dei its only loss in South Coast League play.

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Mike Vukovich, a 6-foot-10 center from Mater Dei, has orally committed to play basketball at UC Santa Barbara, Monarch Coach Gary McKnight said.

Vukovich begins his third year on the varsity this season. He missed the first half of the 1995-96 season because of a knee injury, but averaged 13.7 points and seven rebounds for the top-ranked Monarchs when he returned.

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Jaclyn Frederikson, a shortstop for La Quinta High, has orally committed to play softball at Long Beach State, Aztec Athletic Director Jim Perry announced.

Frederikson, a two-time All-Garden Grove League selection, takes a .341 career batting average into her fourth season on the varsity.

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Jeff Dailey, a 6-11, 205-pound center on the Fountain Valley basketball team, has made an oral commitment to Southern Utah, his mother, Judy Dailey, said.

Dailey chose Southern Utah over Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington after visiting the campus in Cedar City two weeks ago.

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Lisa Gray was hired as girls’ basketball coach and Ray Hales was hired as boys’ soccer coach at Capistrano Valley Christian High, the school announced.

Gray takes over for nine-year coach Tim Shelton, who led the girls’ basketball team to the 1996 Academy League title. Gray, a 1983 graduate of Capistrano Valley Christian, was an All-American selection at Biola.

Hales takes over for Jon Greene in soccer. Hales coached at Corona del Mar from 1991-95 and led the Sea Kings to a Sea View League championship and the Southern Section semifinals.

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The Laguna Beach girls’ volleyball team is ranked No. 3 overall in the state and No. 3 in Division I in the state rankings.

Other county teams that appear in the overall state rankings are: No. 6 Newport Harbor, also ranked No. 5 in Division I, and No. 8 Huntington Beach, also ranked No. 2 in Division II.

Among the teams in divisional rankings are: Division I--No. 7 Dana Hills and No. 8 Fountain Valley; Division II--No. 7 Cypress and No. 8 Santa Margarita; Division III--No. 5 Ocean View and No. 6 La Habra; Division IV--No. 2 Calvary Chapel, and Division V--No. 1 Capistrano Valley Christian.

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The Santa Margarita boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams are ranked Nos. 3 and 6 in the state Division II cross-country rankings.

Other schools that are ranked in both boys’ and girls’ categories: Division III--El Modena’s boys at No. 6 and girls at No. 3, and Newport Harbor’s boys at No. 8 and girls at No. 9; Division IV--Corona del Mar’s boys at No. 1, and girls at No. 4 and Estancia’s boys and girls, both No. 7, and Division V--Orange Lutheran’s boys at No. 3 and girls at No. 2.