Arizona State Signs Esperanza’s Bousquet

Ryan Bousquet, the Esperanza distance runner who finished third in the state Division I cross-country finals last fall, signed to run at Arizona State, Esperanza Coach Rich Medellin said Thursday.

Bousquet, who will compete in track and cross-country for the Sun Devils, also finished sixth in state in the 1,600 during his junior track season, running a personal-best 4 minutes 16.90 seconds.

He currently has the second-fastest time in the county in the 3,200 (9:33.32) and third third-fastest in the 800 (1:57.09), and last fall won the Orange County Championships in cross-country.

DIVING

Curt Wilson has been hired to coach divers at UC Irvine, swimming Coach Charlie Schober said.

Wilson has been the diving coach at Saddleback College for the last year and also heads a private club, Crown Valley Divers. He has served on several national diving committees.

“He has coached some very good divers in the past and he will do well for us with his contacts,” Schober said.

BASEBALL

Ocean View High baseball Coach Steve Barrett has been suspended six games for failing to meet “procedural guidelines,” according to Principal Karen Gilden.

“There were some procedural guidelines within the program that he didn’t follow and some paperwork deadlines he didn’t meet,” Gilden said. “We’ve addressed the problem and implemented appropriate discipline.”

Barrett has served four games of the suspension, Gilden said, and is scheduled to return April 17, when the Seahawks open play in the Coachella Valley tournament.

It is unknown whether the baseball program must forfeit any games as a result of its missed deadlines. Bill Clark, the Southern Section’s assistant commissioner who oversees baseball, is on vacation until Monday.

BASKETBALL

Dustin Kaatz, a 6-foot-4 swingman from Marina High, has committed to play at Humboldt State, Viking Coach Roger Holmes said Thursday.

Kaatz, a first-team all-county selection, averaged 22.9 points and 10.3 rebounds for Marina, which shared the Sunset League title with Los Alamitos. He also considered Cal Poly Pomona, Azusa Pacific, Concordia and UC Davis.

* Jeff Grgas, a 6-8, 200-pound center from Los Alamitos High, has committed to play at Westmont, Warrior Coach John Moore said. Grgas, a first-team All-Sunset League selection two years in a row, averaged 13.2 points.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

About 500 mentally and physically disabled athletes are scheduled to participate in the Orange County Special Olympics track and field meet Saturday at Handel Stadium at Western High School in Anaheim. Opening ceremonies begin at 8:15 a.m. and competition runs through 4 p.m.