Karimov, O’Connor Remain in the Hunt

Eugene Karimov of Encino and Sean O’Connor of Sylmar won two matches Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Mercedes Benz Cup pre-qualifying tournament at the Racquet Centre in Studio City.

Karimov will face Michael Redmond of Los Angeles at noon today. O’Connor will play Noah Newman of Los Angeles at 1:30 p.m.

Four other players from the region, Vince Van Patten of Sherman Oaks, Dexter MacBride of Newbury Park, Steve Oliver of West Hills and Tim Hammond of Thousand Oaks lost Thursday.

Defending champion Tina Karawsky of Glendale beat Gerda Pressing of Germany, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, in the quarterfinals of the 40 division of the USTA National Senior Women’s grass-court championships in New York.

BASEBALL

Brian Horwitz of Crespi High had a single and drove in two runs for the USA Youth national team in a 17-3 victory over Korea on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the ninth World Youth Championships in Fairview Heights, Ill.

The USA (6-0) has outscored its opponents, 74-8, and will play Saturday in the semifinals against the winner of a game Thursday between Mexico and Australia.

Mike Czarnetski, junior varsity coach at Kennedy for the last five years, has been hired as coach at Santa Monica High.

Late registration is being taken for three sessions of the Kids of Courage Sports Academy camp featuring former Dodger Manny Mota as the keynote speaker at Sol Del Valle Community Center in Sun Valley.

Camp sessions continue from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-July 24, Aug. 3-7 and Aug. 10-14.

Cost is $120 per week. Information: (818) 767-1650.

BOXING

Boxer Fernando Vargas of Oxnard, undefeated in 13 professional bouts, is ranked No. 1 as a junior-middleweight contender by the International Boxing Federation.

Vargas, 20, a 1996 U.S. Olympian, is tentatively scheduled to challenge IBF champion Luis Campas in December. Vargas is scheduled to fight Jose Rivera on Aug. 22 at a site to be determined.

FOOTBALL

Defensive back Cedrick Hinkles of San Fernando High accepted a scholarship to Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla.

FENCING

Derek Snyder of Chaminade High helped the U.S. male epee team earn the silver medal at the World Youth Games in Moscow.

The U.S. beat Poland in the third round but lost to Ukraine in the final.

SWIMMING

The 1966 L.A. Valley College team that finished second in the state and produced Olympian Don McKenzie is holding a reunion on Aug. 1 in Encino.

Information: (818) 994-6191.