Cypress’ Larkin, Corona Win Conference Baseball Honors

Shaun Larkin, sophomore second baseman for Cypress, was selected as the Orange Empire Conference player of the year and teammate Ron Corona was selected as the pitcher of the year by a vote of the conference baseball coaches.

Larkin, from La Quinta High, hit .401 with nine home runs and 46 runs batted in during the regular season.

Corona, a sophomore right-hander from Victor Valley High, went 8-4 with a 3.35 earned-run average. He also had a conference-best 105 strikeouts.

Scott Pickler of Cypress and John Altobelli of Orange Coast were selected as the coaches of the year. Pickler led Cypress to the conference title and OCC made the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

The first team:

Pitchers--Ken Chenard (Fullerton), Ron Corona (Cypress), Garrett Estabrook (Cypress), Mike Pazzulla (Saddleback), Rick Sander (Riverside). Catchers--Gerald Laird (Cypress), Ben Rosenthal (Riverside). Infielders--Pat Gonzalez (Riverside), Shaun Larkin (Cypress), Jimmy Luster (Saddleback), Jason Marian (Saddleback), Josh Shaffer (Santa Ana), Wayne Stone (Riverside). Outfielders--Chad Concolino (Saddleback), Richard Lane (Santa Ana), Clare Langford (Saddleback), Cory Sullivan (Cypress). Utility--Brandon Pack (Cypress), Brandon Thompson (Orange Coast). DH--Rich Pohle (Fullerton).

*

The Sequoia Conference Center in Buena Park is site of the Muay Thai Championships, scheduled for 8 p.m. today. Brian Popejoy of Hermosa Beach will face Baxter Humby of Malibu for the United World Muay Thai kick-boxing middleweight championship.

Rob McCullough of Huntington Beach will fight William Sriyapai of Upland for the UWMTA welterweight title.

Ringside-seat tickets $35; general admission is $25. Doors open at 6 p.m. The center is at 7530 Orangethorpe Ave. in Buena Park.

*

Longtime UC Irvine water polo Coach Ted Newland will be one of two recipients of the United States Sports Academy’s 1999 distinguished service award today at the Kaleidoscope Gallery in Mission Viejo.

Dr. Gideon Ariel, a biomechanical researcher, will be the other recipient. Artist Aldo Luongo will receive the academy’s 1999 sport artist of the year award at the ceremony. The public is invited. The event begins at 6 p.m. The gallery is located at 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy.

Newland was the first NCAA water polo coach to reach 600 victories. He has guided the Anteaters to three national titles (1970, ‘82, ‘89), 23 top-five finishes and eight conference titles. He also coached the U.S. team at the 1995 World University Games in Japan.

*

Mike Estrada, a graduate of Santa Ana High and UCLA, was selected to coach in the Westside all-star baseball game, June 13 at UCLA. Estrada led L.A. Brentwood to an 8-0 record in the Delphic League and the No. 4 seed in the Southern Section Division V playoffs, which begin today.

*

The Zodiac acquired free agent Martin Vasquez, a former Major League Soccer all-star midfielder, the team announced. Vasquez, a West Covina resident, played soccer three years at Cal State Los Angeles. He made his professional debut in 1984 with the Los Angeles Lazers and has played for the Mexican and U.S. national teams.