Long Beach Poly’s Travis, OCC’s Castleton Commit to Titans

Two more players have announced plans to play men’s basketball for Cal State Fullerton.

Joe Travis, a 6-foot-8 forward from Long Beach Poly High, has committed to the Titans, his high school coach, Ron Palmer, said Thursday. Orange Coast College Coach Mark Hill announced that guard David Castleton will transfer to Fullerton.

Travis averaged 13.8 points and 12 rebounds last season for a Poly team that defeated Chino Hills Ayala to win the Southern Section Division I-AA championship. Travis had 18 points and 12 rebounds in the title game.

Castleton, who played at Mater Dei, led the Orange Empire Conference in scoring with a 22.6 average, earning all-conference honors. He

also played for the OCC football team last season, catching 53 passes for 958 yards and four touchdowns.

SOFTBALL

The Chapman softball team (30-8) appears to have enough victories to secure one of four at-large berths in the NCAA Western Regional tournament.

The Panthers travel to UC San Diego for a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday. A sweep would go a long way toward ensuring Chapman’s bid to host a Division III regional tournament.

Should UCSD (27-9) sweep, the Tritons probably would host the regional since they are ranked No. 2, ahead of No. 3 Chapman. Both have applied to host the event.

* Pitcher Cheri Smith of Vanguard was named NAIA Region II player of the week for April 24-30. She gave up one earned run in 12 2/3 innings and beat fifth-ranked Azusa Pacific, 2-1.

TENNIS

Maureen Diaz, a freshman singles player at UC Irvine, will participate in the NCAA finals May 22-26 at Pepperdine. Darian Chappell and Jonni Seymour are alternates in doubles.

* Cal State Fullerton senior Amy Medlin and junior Eleanor Luzano were named second-team All-Big West in doubles.

Also named to the second team was UC Santa Barbara’s Shannon Wilkins (Canyon High) in doubles. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Brandon Fallon (Dana Hills) was named to the men’s second team in doubles.

* Robert Walton, boys’ and girls’ tennis coach at Brea Olinda High, has resigned effective at the end of the season, Athletic Director Sharen Caperton said. Walton has accepted a job with Big Brothers and Sisters in the Coachella Valley.

TRACK AND FIELD

Five women and two men from Concordia, including two-time All-American distance runner Tricia Mattson, have qualified for the NAIA track and field finals May 25-27 in Vancouver, Canada.

Mattson will compete in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters. Teammate Rachel Lafady will compete in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Also in the women’s 10,000 are Christy Ide and Mindy Brown. Kim Morris is scheduled to compete in the 3,000-meter racewalk.

Bruce Hockless will compete in the shotput and Fabio Mathias will run in the men’s 10,000 meters.

WATER POLO

Fourteen players from Orange County high schools were selected to the Southern California girls’ water polo zone team, which will participate in tryouts for the junior national team and junior youth team, May 26-29 at Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center.

The county players include Ke’ala Carter, El Toro; Cara Chlebicki, Marina; Gabbie Domanic, Foothill; Erika Figge, Santa Margarita; Teresa Guidi, Esperanza; Sarah Hamilton, Irvine; Brittany Hayes, Foothill; Christina Hewko, Corona del Mar; Kristina Kunkel, Santa Margarita; Nicole Lorrimer, Irvine; Jackie Pirro, Foothill; Lauren Volcan , Canyon; Drue Wawryzynski , Los Alamitos, and Erin Wilson, Marina.

SOUTHERN SECTION

Winter sports teams will be able to compete or practice on Christmas, as long as it does not fall on a Sunday, if Southern Section representatives get their way at the state council meeting today and Saturday in Sacramento. Games and practices will remain prohibited on Sundays.

Section representatives also will push for a measure prohibiting sections from approving a sport not already approved by the state.