Canale Sharp for Cal Lutheran, 7-2

Right-hander Tom Canale pitched a four-hitter and Cal Lutheran defeated Cortland State, 7-2, in a first-round game of the NCAA Division III baseball championships Friday at Salem, Va.

Canale (10-5), a sophomore who was selected third team All-American, struck out nine and walked two. He allowed one hit through the first six innings, when the Kingsmen took a 6-0 lead.

The Kingsmen (32-12) pounded three pitchers for 15 hits, including three each by designated hitter Brad Smith, left fielder Nick Plancich and catcher Eric Medina.

Cal Lutheran meets North Carolina Wesleyan (38-9) today at 1 p.m. (PDT) in a second-round game of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament.

SOFTBALL

* Stanford outfielder Jessica Mendoza, a freshman from Camarillo, was selected All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn. Mendoza batted .415 with nine home runs, 57 runs batted in and 38 runs--all school records.

FOOTBALL

* Practice has begun for the Valley Youth All-Star game, set for 7 p.m. June 5 at Cal State Northridge.

The East, coached by Jim Bonds of Alemany High, is practicing nightly at Northridge. The West, coached by George Hurley of Newbury Park, is working out at Pierce College.

The East features All-American quarterback Kyle Boller of Hart and receivers Kyle Cremarosa of Burroughs, George Wrighster of Sylmar and Devin Montgomery of Alemany.

The West has running back Marquis Brignac and receiver Lawrence Wallace of Taft, quarterback Nick Czernek of Newbury Park and lineman Ashcon Madjid of L.A. Baptist.

GOLF

* Taft High is holding a charity tournament to support its athletic program on June 21 at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana. Cost is $160. Information: (818) 346-6596.

MISCELLANY

* Birmingham High will honor Athletic Director Lou Ramirez at a barbecue retirement party June 6. Information: (818) 881-1580.