Aliso Niguel Softball Advances in Playoffs

The softball team from Aliso Niguel High advanced out of today’s wild-card round without having to play a game.

The Wolverines, who tied for the Pacific Coast League championship, were incorrectly listed as the second-place team on the league’s playoff entry form, Southern Section spokesman Thom Simmons said Tuesday.

Because there were already 16 league champions hosting first-round games Friday, Aliso Niguel will have to play at second-seeded Foothill, winners of the Century League.

Dana Hills, the second-place team in the South Coast League, will replace Aliso Niguel in today’s wild-card game. The Dolphins will host Los Alamitos at 3:15, with the winner advancing to play at Lakewood on Friday.

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Former Woodbridge High guard Erin Stovall is one of 43 players who will begin tryouts today in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the U.S. women’s basketball team that will compete at the World University Games July 1-13 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Stovall, a 5-9 sophomore at Virginia, averaged 14.5 points and was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference third team last season.

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Newport Beach Country Club will host a local qualifying round Thursday for golf’s U.S. Open. It will be the first time the course, site of the Toshiba Senior Classic the last four years, has held a U.S. Open qualifying event.

A field of 112 men will play 18 holes for eight spots in sectional qualifying in June. The U.S. Open is June 17-20 at Pinehurst, N.C.