ALUMNI REPORT

An update on former Orange County prep athletes now in college:

UCLA SOFTBALL

* County connections: Amanda Freed of Pacifica High, Stephanie Swenson of San Clemente High and Julie Adams of Cypress High.

* Worth noting: Freed, the Times Orange County player of the year in 1997 and ‘98, continues to dominate as a freshman for the No. 1-ranked Bruins (29-0). She and teammate Courtney Dale, a sophomore, are each 13-0. Swenson, a sophomore pitcher, is 2-0. Adams, a junior third baseman, is batting .375 with eight home runs and 24 runs batted in.

* Upcoming games: UCLA hosts San Diego in a doubleheader beginning at 1 today at Easton Stadium, then hosts Pacific-10 games against California at 11 a.m. Saturday and Stanford at 1 p.m. Sunday.

ASU SOFTBALL

* County connections: Nichole Thompson of Woodbridge High and Kathy Ponce of Ocean View High.

* Worth noting: The sixth-ranked Sun Devils (29-5) are coming off their 3-2 victory over 11th-ranked Texas Sunday in the championship game of the Kia Klassic at Cal State Fullerton. Thompson, a freshman second baseman/outfielder, leads Arizona with 42 hits and is second on the team in batting average (.385). Ponce, a senior outfielder/pitcher, is batting .283 and is 1-0 with a 1.50 earned-run average.

BIOLA BASKETBALL

* County connection: Dan and David Ploog of La Habra High.

* Worth noting: Dan Ploog, a senior forward, made five of six free throws in the final 12 seconds to help 16th-seeded Biola to a 51-46 victory over Lipscomb in the first round of the NAIA tournament in Tulsa, Okla. Biola, which finished the season 29-8, upset top-seeded Incarnate Word, 57-55, in the second round. David Ploog is a redshirt freshman guard.

Alumni Report welcomes suggestions on former county athletes now in college. Call (714) 966-5904 or fax information to (714) 966-5663.