Laird Remains Unsigned, Plans to Attend ASU

Gerald Laird, who was the second-round pick of the Oakland Athletics, plans to leave today to prepare to attend classes at Arizona State but hasn’t ruled out signing to play professionally, his mother Vicky said Thursday.

Laird, twice Times Orange County player of the year, could sign until he attends his first class Monday.

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Five Orange County swimmers and two others who train here will represent the United States next year in three international meets.

Aaron Peirsol of Irvine, Steve West of Huntington Beach and Stacianna Stitts of Carlsbad, who all train with the Irvine Novaquatics, and Kaitlin Sandeno of Lake Forest, who swims for the Mission Viejo Nadadores, were selected for the U.S. team that will compete in the Pan American Games in Winnipeg next year.

Jason Lezak of Irvine and Bobby Brewer of Lake Forest, Ga., who also swim for the Novaquatics, were selected for the Pan Pacific Games team that will compete in Sydney, Australia.

Olympic silver medalist Amanda Beard of Irvine was selected to compete at the World University Games in Spain.