LOCAL NOTES

Fresno State infielder Nina Lindenberg beat out 60 competitors for one of four roster spots on the U.S. National softball team.

Lindenberg’s hit in the eighth inning helped the South win the gold-medal game, 1-0, Sunday at the USA Softball Women’s Team Festival in Fort Worth, Texas.

The national team will play games across the country before the International Softball Federation women’s world championships, July 20-30, in Fujinomiya City, Japan.

The U.S. needs to finish in the top four at the world championships to earn a berth in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Lindenberg played at Canyon High and was a member of the 1995 USA Junior National team.

*

High school basketball teams are entered in the annual girls’ Tournament of Champions at Southern California College. It features eight games a day, beginning at noon Thursday through Sunday.

Marina, the defending Division I-A champion, and Palos Verdes Peninsula, the defending Division I-AA champion, are among those competing.

*

Michelle Pitts, a junior guard who started 20 games for Southern Section Division I-A girls’ basketball champion Marina, has transferred to Calvary Chapel, her father, Tim, said.

*

Former Angel third baseman Doug DeCinces and Rob Scichili, manager of media services for the Mighty Ducks, are the guest speakers at the Sports Newsmakers Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. today at the Arrowhead Pond.

Reservations can be made by calling (714) 758-0222.

*

Karen Caires, who coached Kennedy High girls’ basketball for two seasons, has been hired as an assistant at Arizona.

It is Caires’ third job since leaving Kennedy in 1994. She was an assistant three years at Vermont, and one at Oregon State before becoming an assistant with Arizona’s top-10 program.

*

Virginia Barnes, a 21-year resident of Monarch Bay and a female pioneer in motorsports management and marketing, died June 11 from cancer. She was 57.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. today at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Laguna Beach.

*

Paul Ruvolo of Riverside College has signed a letter of intent to compete next season in track and field at Cal State Fullerton.

Ruvolo, who cleared 6 feet 10 inches in the high jump, qualified for the state finals. He also competes in long jump and javelin.

*

Nick Seymour of Foothill and Richard Nones of Servite qualified for next month’s Junior World Championships at Torrey Pines. Seymour shot a 69 on the par-72 San Dimas Canyon Golf Course. Nones shot 72 to qualify.