Kennedy Is Golden Spike Candidate

Former Cal State Northridge shortstop Adam Kennedy is among 50 candidates for the Golden Spike award given yearly to the top amateur player in the nation.

The finalists are expected to be announced in about two weeks.

Kennedy, now in the St. Louis Cardinals minor-league system, batted .482 with 26 home runs and 99 runs batted in for the Matadors last season.

Past winners include major leaguers Darren Dreifort, Robin Ventura, Alex Fernandez and Ben McDonald.

Championship set: A state junior-college football champion will be determined by a bowl game Dec. 13 between the top teams of the northern and southern regions, the state commission on athletics has announced.

The top two ranked teams in the final northern and southern polls will be awarded bids to existing bowl games on Nov. 29 or Dec. 6. The winners will play for the state title the following week at a site to be determined.

Antelope Valley College will host the inaugural McDonald’s Bowl at a date to be determined.

Strong start: Former Van Nuys High and Valley College kicker/punter Jose Cortez had a successful debut last week against North Texas after winning the starting job at Oregon State.

Cortez kicked field goals of 44 and 27 yards and was one of two on conversions.

Among other players from the region at Oregon State, Kennedy High product Alex Sawatzke, a junior, has won a starting position at defensive end, Larry Bumpus of Oxnard has been listed as a second-string defensive back and Sylmar’s Anthony Murray is rated third at middle linebacker.