Eighth Is Enough for Prieto to Make All-American Team

Senior Brandi Prieto of Cal State Northridge, a nine-time Big Sky Conference champion, earned All-American honors for the first time with an eighth-place finish in the women’s triple jump in the NCAA indoor track and field championships at the University of Arkansas on Saturday.

Prieto had a best of 42-6 to improve on her 16th-place finish in the 1999 NCAA indoor championships and on her 18th-place effort in the outdoor meet last year.

The top eight finishers with U.S. citizenship in each event are All-Americans.

Junior Clinte Motley of Northridge was 10th in the men’s triple jump at 52-2 after tying for 12th in the high jump Friday.

Freshman Lauren Fleshman of Stanford, a 1999 graduate of Canyon High, was sixth in the 3,000 meters in 9:20.62 to earn All-American honors for the second time.

She placed fifth in the NCAA cross-country championships in November.

BASEBALL

Santa Barbara 6, Canyons 4--John Ramistella hit a game-winning, two-run home run in the 10th for the Vaqueros (6-6, 1-2) in a Western State Conference interdivisional game at Santa Barbara.

Garrett Behnke had two hits and three RBIs for Canyons (8-6, 4-2).

Behnke hit a two-run single in the seventh to cut the Cougars’ deficit to 4-2 and his sacrifice fly in the ninth tied the score, 4-4.

Ventura 9, Bakersfield 4--The Pirates scored five unearned runs in the final three innings to win a WSC interdivisional game at Ventura.

Ventura (10-5, 3-3) was trailing, 3-1, after 5 1/2 innings, but scored four runs in the sixth and took the lead for good, 4-3, on Steve Gunter’s two-run triple.

Gunter, Kurt Probasco and Matt Alonzo each had two hits and scored two runs for Ventura.

Pierce 11, Cuesta 8--Kona Sampaio hit a two-run home run, a two-run double and a run-scoring groundout for the Brahmas (8-5, 4-1) in a WSC interdivisional victory at Cuesta.

Oxnard 9, Citrus 8--Josh Lake hit a game-winning solo home run with two out in the ninth inning, lifting the Condors to a WSC interdivisional victory at Citrus.

Robert Avila hit two three-run home runs for Oxnard (10-6, 3-1).

SOFTBALL

CS Northridge 6-4, New Mexico State 4-1--Jill Passafiume hit a two-run double in the first game and Jamie Moore hit a two-run single in the second game for the Matadors (10-10-1, 2-0) in a Big West Conference sweep at Northridge.