Northwestern Dismisses Jones for Academic Reasons

Northwestern dismissed Anwawn Jones, a junior linebacker from Montclair Prep, for academic reasons Saturday.

Jones played in 11 games last year, making 42 tackles.

BASEBALL

Excellent Escobar: The Master’s is 23-6 and senior right-hander Ruben Escobar is one of the big reasons for the success.

Escobar was 8-0 with a 1.16 earned-run average after a 3-1 victory over Chapman on Monday.

“I’ve been in a groove,” said Escobar, who was 8-6 with a 4.06 ERA last season. “I expected to come out and play well. A lot is expected of a pitcher, especially the No. 1 starter. If you don’t do it, somebody else will take your spot.”

Mastermind: The Master’s has one more victory than it had last season when it was 22-27, Monte Brooks’ first season as coach after two seasons as an assistant.

The former minor leaguer in the San Diego Padres’ organization said the team’s attitude is one of the keys to the turnabout.

“One thing about this team I’ve really enjoyed is they’ve been very competitive,” Brooks said. “Our goal is to get 27 outs as fast as possible.”

Ace bandaged: Cal Lutheran has played much of the season without right-hander Erik Kiszczak, who was expected to anchor the staff.

Kiszczak, a junior from Lake Havasu, Ariz., pulled a groin muscle before the season started and started two games before straining a ligament in his right elbow in a 21-1 victory over Occidental on Feb. 21.

“He’s rehabbing right now,” Coach Marty Slimak said. “He threw real well in the pen the other day. . . . If you want to look at the positive, he’ll be very well rested and we’ll get a lot of innings out of him later in the season.”

SOCCER

Sign of times: Cal State Northridge women’s Coach Brian Wiesner is not concerned that the Matadors have landed only one recruit in seven weeks since the signing period began.

Wiesner said four recruits were scheduled to visit campus this week and he expects to sign six or seven players in the next month.

“We compete with the Pac-10 schools, who get a lot of commitments before or at the signing date,” Wiesner said.

Wiesner has been criticized for not signing local players but he pursued Chaminade’s Carlie Stokes, La Reina’s Aimee Thompson and Westlake’s Meghan Daly, who signed elsewhere.