DIGEST

* Coach Eli Essa of Bell-Jeff High said Monday he has received inquiries from 15 college coaches regarding guard Ruben Douglas, who announced on the weekend he will transfer from Arizona.

Douglas, who played at Bell-Jeff and was The Times’ Valley player of the year in 1998, started 14 games as a freshman for Arizona. He lost his starting job this season to freshman guard Gilbert Arenas, an All-City player from Grant.

Essa insisted that Douglas’ departure is not solely based on losing his starting position.

“He likes the school, he likes the players on the team,” Essa said. “Ruben was close to not renewing his scholarship last May. The fit wasn’t good to begin with.”

Essa said schools from the Big East and Southeastern conferences are interested in Douglas, who plans to finish the fall semester at Arizona and then transfer so he will be eligible to play for another school next season.

FOOTBALL

* Monroe High must forfeit its six football victories for having an ineligible player on the roster all season.

Monroe officials reported the infraction to the City Section athletics office after Van Nuys players recognized the player Friday night during Monroe’s 50-14 Valley Mission League victory over the Wolves.

A Van Nuys official said the player was a senior at Van Nuys two years ago.

Monroe will remain in the City Invitational playoffs. The Vikings, seeded No. 6, will host No. 11 Narbonne on Friday.

SOFTBALL

* Nicole Holt, an All-Ventura County outfielder from Camarillo, has signed with Washington.

* Monique Lovell, a pitcher from Montclair Prep, has signed with Kentucky.

TENNIS

* Van Nuys 4, Venice 3--Jane Han defeated Judy Choi, 6-2, 7-5, at No. 4 singles to break a 3-3 tie and help Van Nuys upset top-seeded Venice in a City Invitational semifinal match at Warner Center Tennis Club in Woodland Hills.

No. 4-seeded Van Nuys (11-4) swept in singles.

No. 1 player Diana Friedland improved to 14-0 with a 6-0, 6-0, victory over Jung Mi Jang and No. 2 Tinna Chung improved to 13-1 after a 6-0, 6-2, victory over Katie Huebner.

Van Nuys will play No. 2-seeded Fairfax on Friday at the same facility.

AUTO RACING

* Cory Kruseman of Ventura earned a $10,000 bonus Saturday night by finishing second in the fourth annual Oval Nationals 40-lap sprint car main event at Perris Auto Speedway to clinch the Non-Winged World Championship.

J.J. Yeley of Phoenix placed fourth in the race, sanctioned by the Sprint Car Racing Assn., and finished 30 points behind Kruseman in the NWWC standings.