Pitcher Ennis Signed by Braves

Right-handed pitcher John Ennis of Monroe High has signed with the Atlanta Braves and will report July 3 to rookie league in Orlando, Fla.

The 6-foot-5 Ennis, who spurned a scholarship to UCLA, was chosen in the 14th round of the amateur draft earlier this month.

“John signed for substantially more than a typical 14th-rounder, more in line with what a third-rounder would get,” said Stu Lovitt, Ennis’ agent.

Ennis also received a college tuition guarantee, Lovitt said.

Trevor Gray, a right-handed pitcher from Fresno City College, has signed with Cal State Northridge.

Gray is the sixth pitcher in this recruiting class signed by Northridge Coach Mike Batesole.

David Land of Simi Valley High has been selected to play for an all-star team that will participate in the Mililani Invitational tournament in Honolulu.

Land, a sophomore, batted .390 with six home runs and 24 runs batted in last season.

BASKETBALL

Fred Largent has been chosen girls’ coach at Village Christian High, replacing Brent Smith, who resigned after one season.

Largent has coached track and field and cross-country at Village Christian for 13 years. He served as an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Village Christian from 1993-97.

The school won Alpha League titles each of those seasons.

BICYCLING

Entries are being taken for the Cool Breeze Bicycle Ride, which is scheduled for Aug. 22 in Ventura.

As many as 500 cyclists are expected to participate in rides of various distances, including a metric century ride of approximately 65 miles, a 100-mile century ride and a double-metric ride of 130 miles along the Ventura and Santa Barbara-area coastlines and through Casitas Pass.

The entry fee is $22 through July 31, and $27 after that.

For information call Larry Lundeen at (805) 650-1794 or Udas Young at (805) 484-3230, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to 1336 B Callens Road, Ventura 93003.

VOLLEYBALL

The finish was rough for Royal High--a lengthy five-game loss to Mira Costa in the quarterfinals--but the Highlanders fared better in the All-Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball selections.

Opposite hitter Steve Russell of Royal was chosen to the All-Southern Section Division I team and middle blocker Cam Dickson of the Highlanders was selected to the second team.

Middle blocker-outside hitter Robert Congelliere of Newbury Park was selected to the Division II team.

Middle blocker Larry Cole of Campbell Hall, setter Matt Miller of Crespi and outside hitter Craig Revell of Flintridge Prep were selected to the Division III team.

BOWLING

Robert Smith, a graduate of Royal High, is in third place going into the final round of the $330,000 AC-Delco tournament today at Cal Bowl in Lakewood.

Smith will face Ricky Ward of North Ft. Myers, Fla., who is second, and Tim Criss of Bel Air, Md., who is fourth, in match play.

The survivor among those three plays leader Steve Hoskins of Tarpon Springs, Fla., for the $52,000 winner’s purse, second-largest offered on the Professional Bowlers Assn. tour.