Alekna Throws Hat Into Ring

Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania, the No. 4-ranked men’s discus thrower in the world last year according to Track & Field News, will compete in the Antelope Valley College Throws Festival on April 13.

Alekna, who has a career best of 228-6, heads an international list of entries that includes Aleksander Tammert of Estonia, Ian Winchester of New Zealand, Lee Newman of Great Britain, Jason Tunks of Canada, Rutger Smith of Holland and Doug Reynolds and Sean McKeown of the U.S.

Reynolds was the No. 4-ranked thrower in the U.S. last year and McKeown is a 1992 graduate of Newbury Park High.

* Seth Neumuller of Thousand Oaks High, a two-time selection to The Times’ all-region cross-country team, will attend UCLA and try to make the Bruin team as a walk-on.

Neumuller ran a career best of 9:30.5 in the 3,200 meters in the Meet of Champions Distance Carnival at Azusa Pacific on March 25.

BASKETBALL

* Montclair Prep co-coach Howard Abrams has resigned. The school has not made a decision if co-coach Greg Patterson will coach the team by himself.

SOFTBALL

* Steve Marden, former baseball coach at San Fernando High, is putting together a 16-team tournament for high school teams that will begin in 2001. It will be played on consecutive Saturdays, starting on March 31.

Information: (818) 365-1121.

BASEBALL

* Gonzaga’s Barry Matthews, who is from Crespi High, was selected the West Coast Conference pitcher of the week after he allowed one earned run in a 15-4 victory over Washington State. He also went four for five. He is 6-1 with a 3.98 earned-run average.

* Newbury Park High will hold an alumni game at 11 a.m. April 15.

Players should arrive at 10 a.m.

A silent auction and barbecue will follow the game.

Information: Coach Curtis Scott 805-499-9508.

FYI

* Cal Lutheran will hosts its annual Point Guard & Perimeter Play basketball camp July 31-Aug. 2.

Rich Rider, Cal Lutheran men’s basketball coach, will direct the clinic, which will focus on leadership skills and game strategy.

Admission is $110. Boys and girls ages 7 to 17 are eligible. Information: (805) 493-3404.