Earl Impresses, Signs With Detroit

Ryan Earl, a 6-foot-5 left-handed pitcher from Thousand Oaks High, signed with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday and will report to Lakeland, Fla., of the rookie Gulf Coast League on Monday.

Earl pitched only three innings for the Lancers this season, but was impressive in a succession of workouts with scouts in the weeks leading up to the draft. Earl throws 86 mph with great movement on his pitches.

“It’s always been my dream and it’s finally come true,” Earl said. “For a while in high school I didn’t know what to do, but I worked hard on my own.”

Earl didn’t reveal the terms of his contract, but said that in addition to a signing bonus, the Tigers will pay for his college education.

Darren Dyt, who batted .305 for Cal State Northridge this season, signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. Dyt, 22, will be assigned to Johnson City, Tenn., of the rookie Appalachian League.

Crescenta Valley will revisit the scene of its Southern Section Division I championship in a ceremony at Dodger Stadium before the Dodgers’ 7:30 p.m. game against Oakland.

Crescenta Valley defeated Esperanza, 7-1, Saturday for its first championship.

SOFTBALL

For the third consecutive season, Quartz Hill High’s Jodie Cox has been chosen Golden League player of the year. Cox, a junior left-hander who led the Rebels to the Southern Section Division II title, finished 22-3 with a 0.32 earned-run average and batted .455 with nine home runs and 31 runs batted in.

Cindy Ball, Kathryn Nevard and Jessica Mendoza of Southern Section Division I semifinalist Camarillo earned three of the five top individual year-end Marmonte League honors.

Ball (12-1), a right-hander headed to Pacific on scholarship, batted .385 with 18 runs batted in and was selected the league’s most valuable player.

Nevard (9-5), a sophomore who struck out 102 in 97 1/3 innings, was selected most valuable pitcher.

Stanford-bound Mendoza, who played shortstop and second base and led Camarillo with 40 hits, was chosen co-defensive player of the year with shortstop Kristin Combe of Thousand Oaks, who batted .405 and is headed to Baylor.

Oli Keohohou of Newbury Park, a sophomore who batted a league-high .516 with 47 hits and 24 RBIs, was selected offensive player of the year.

Camarillo’s Miki Mangan and Thousand Oaks’ Gary Walin were selected co-coaches of the year.

Rhianna Rogers of Rio Mesa was selected most valuable player of the Channel League. Rogers, a senior third baseman, batted .457 with six doubles and 17 RBIs.

VOLLEYBALL

Simi Valley High outside hitter Oliver Bell was selected the Marmonte League player of the year.

BASKETBALL

Andre Chevalier and Eric Brown attended a retreat for Cal State Northridge coaches this week and are awaiting final approval from administrators to be hired as assistants under men’s Coach Bobby Braswell.

Chevalier, the Cleveland High coach and former Northridge and Cleveland star point guard, will be a full-time assistant. Brown, an assistant at Valley College and Grant High who also played at those schools, will be a part-time assistant.