IBL Looks at Pond for Possible Franchise

Officials of the planned new International Basketball League are looking at the Pond of Anaheim as a possible site for one of its 10 to 12 teams when the league begins play in November, 1997.

The group’s spokesman, Bill Norris, said a meeting is planned for this week with Anaheim city officials to discuss possibilities. IBL officials are looking at approximately 36 cities as possible venues. “We’re glad to listen to them, but these discussions are very, very preliminary,” Anaheim City Manager James D. Ruth said. Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly was not available for comment.

The IBL group is led by Paul Martha, former general counsel for the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Francisco 49ers.

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Mike Estrada, a 1991 graduate of Santa Ana High, has been named baseball coach at Los Angeles Brentwood.

Estrada, 23, played for UCLA and was Brentwood’s junior varsity coach the last two seasons. He led the Eagles to a 12-2-1 record and the Delphic League title last year.

Estrada succeeds David Ravitz, who accepted a position as graduate assistant at Loyola Marymount.

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Gene Scarlett, 67, from Fullerton helped the Secure Horizons Vipers softball team, comprised of players 65 and older, to a gold medal at the Long Beach Senior Olympics last Sunday.

Scarlett is the Vipers’ manager, captain and catcher. The team qualified for the 1997 National Senior Olympics Tournament and will participate in the Senior Softball Invitational today and Friday at Yorba Park in Anaheim.

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Monthly newsmaker luncheons will resume Tuesday at noon at the Pond of Anaheim. Speakers will be men’s basketball coaches Bob Hawking of Cal State Fullerton, Rod Baker of UC Irvine and Mike Bokosky of Chapman. The luncheon is sponsored by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Sports Assn. and the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame. Cost is $20. For information, (714) 758-0222.

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Freshman Ricia Gonnering of Southern California College was named to the Golden State Athletic Conference All-Conference women’s soccer first team.

Gonnering, a former standout at Trabuco Hills High, is a goalkeeper. She joins teammates Katie Kelley and Lori Van Herk, also named to the first team.