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Miscellany

Former USC pitcher Seth Etherton, a first-round pick of the Angels in the 1998 draft, is one of five candidates for the Golden Spikes Award, honoring amateur baseball’s top player.

The award will be presented next Wednesday in Orlando, Fla., at USA Baseball’s Salute to Excellence awards dinner.

Etherton, who played for Dana Hills High, had a 13-3 record and led the nation in strikeouts last season for the Trojans, who won the College World Series. Other finalists are Pat Burrell of Miami, Jeff Austin of Stanford, Eddy Furniss of LSU and Brad Wilkerson of Florida.