Ross to Get State Player of Year Award Today

April Ross, who led the Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball team to consecutive state titles and three Southern Section Division I-AA championships, will be presented the California High School Player of the Year award today at 10 a.m. at the Newport Harbor stadium.

Ross and 48 other recipients, representing 48 states and the District of Columbia, are eligible to win the National High School Player of the Year award, which will be announced this month.

Ross, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter/setter who has committed to USC, was named The Times’ Orange County girls’ volleyball player of the year her junior and senior seasons.

SOUTHERN SECTION

The Southern Section approved new restrictions on wrestlers’ weigh-ins and increased the number of games for water polo teams at a meeting of the section council.

The council agreed that wrestlers who qualify for the state meet will no longer be required to weigh in prior to the start of that competition.

Boys’ and girls’ water polo teams will now be allowed a maximum of 20 games during the regular season, two more than previously allowed.

Mater Dei Principal Pat Murphy proposed that the section develop a tiebreaker to be used in all divisional football championships. The council took the proposal under study. Mater Dei and Long Beach Poly tied, 21-21, in the Division I final last month.

BASEBALL

Cal State Fullerton sophomore Sean Bischofberger has been declared academically ineligible, leaving sophomore Shawn Norris as the top candidate to start at third base when the Titans open their season Feb. 4 at top-ranked Stanford.

Bischofberger batted .224 in 34 games last season. Norris, who hit .286 in 52 games, spent most of his time at shortstop in 1999.

* The first George Genovese Games, a doubleheader featuring 80 local baseball players who have not signed pro contracts, will be held Sunday at Biola University in La Mirada.

The event is named for the long-time pro baseball scout and is designed as a showcase for college coaches and scouts. It is also open to the public. Tickets are $20. Games times are 9:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

For more information, call George Viota at (818) 222-1617.

FOOTBALL

Los Alamitos High football Coach John Barnes announced college decisions for quarterback Mike Sanford and running back Damon Johnson.

Sanford, who passed for 1,883 yards and 14 touchdowns, will attend Boise State. Johnson, who rushed for 1,441 yards and 18 touchdowns, is headed to Washington State.

TENNIS

Los Alamitos High has hired Dan Mainzer as boys’ tennis coach, according to boys’ Athletic Director Rob Wigod.

Mainzer, a private tennis instructor and an employee of the city recreation department, takes over a team that has won five consecutive Sunset League championships.

ADMINISTRATION

Paula Smith has been hired as an assistant athletic director at UC Irvine, university officials announced.

Smith, a graduate of New Mexico State, has worked in the Big West Conference for 12 years, the last six as an assistant commissioner. She will oversee academic support services and the Life Skills program for Irvine athletes.