Former Cypress Standout Pickler Signs With Brewers

Jeff Pickler, an All-American second baseman at Tennessee who also played at Cypress College, has signed a professional contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, his father Scott said.

Pickler, who also played at Foothill High, was taken in the 11th round by Milwaukee and will report to the Brewers’ Class A team in Ogden, Utah.

Jeff Barndollar, a pitcher at Saddleback College, has signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saddleback Coach Jack Hodges said. Barndollar, a 19th-round pick, was 4-4 but the right-hander has a powerful fastball.

Cypress College pitcher Jim Kirkland has signed to play at West Virginia. Kirkland, who played at Loara High, was 1-2 with a team-high three saves.

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John Klink, coach of the Saddleback College men’s and women’s track and field teams the last five seasons and cross-country teams the last four, resigned Monday, citing an inability to devote enough time, the school announced.

Klink was the Orange Empire Conference’s men’s cross-country coach of the year last season after leading the Gauchos to a share of the conference title.

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Vicki Toutz, who led Garden Grove to the Southern Section Division I badminton finals, was named Division I co-coach of the year by the Southern California Badminton Assn.

Toutz, who is retiring after leading the Argonauts’ program for the past 31 years, shares the award with Alhambra Keppel’s Harold George, who is retiring after 15 years. Keppel defeated Garden Grove, 10-9, in the section final.

County seniors selected to the All-Division I team were Chhai Chorn and Tina Lam of Garden Grove, Ngan Dang of Marina, Joseph Huynh of La Quinta and Huy Le and Phong Lo of Ocean View.

Selected to the All-Division II team were seniors Jihan Elgazzar of Kennedy, Ing Phansavash, Sophea Kiet and Peter Lee of Magnolia, The Mai of Katella and Vuthy Sem of Century.

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Vicki Gentry, girls’ volleyball coach the last two seasons at Laguna Beach High, has resigned, the school announced.

Gentry cited conflicts of time with personal and professional commitments for her decision.

Shawn Patchell, boys’ volleyball coach at Laguna Beach, will also take over the girls’ program on an interim basis.

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Ben Tran of Santiago, a starting quarterback for two years, has accepted an appointment to the Air Force Academy and will play football and compete on the track team, Santiago track and cross-country Coach Rex Ressler said. Tran was an all-league defensive back last season.

Teammate Robert Kennedy has accepted an appointment to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and plans to compete on the track and cross-country teams.

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Troy basketball player Scott Blake has signed with Azusa Pacific and teammate Mike Graves with Pacific Christian, Warrior Coach T.J. Hardeman said.

Blake, a forward, averaged 16 points and was an All-Freeway League selection for the second season in a row. Graves, a guard, earned his first all-league selection this season.

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Pacific Christian College has received commitments from the following softball players: pitchers Julie Lagerstrom (Bakersfield Foothill High), Charity McMillan (Homedale, Idaho) and Jody Richards (Sierra Vista, Ariz.); catcher Cori McDonald (Ramona High), and infielders Catherine Crow (Ridgecrest Burroughs High) and Stacy Diaz (Pasadena College).

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Three baseball players--Jason Radwan, Jimmy Pickel and Matt Cocking--have signed with Concordia, the school announced.

Radwan, a catcher, played at Saddleback College and Aliso Niguel. Pickel, a pitcher, played at Fullerton College and was the Sunset League’s pitcher of the year at Esperanza in 1996. Cocking is an infielder from San Jose Valley Christian High.