Whitaker Cancels Bout Because of Son’s Illness

Heavyweight Lance Whitaker of Granada Hills has pulled out of a tentative arrangement to fight Dec. 10 in Grand Victoria, Ill., because of an illness to his 6-year-old son.

Whitaker, 23-1 with 18 knockouts, was being considered for a co-main event on the America Presents program scheduled to be televised by Fox Sports Net. However, Whitaker has stopped training and put his career on hold to spend time with his son, Lance Jr., who is battling leukemia, an American Presents spokesman said.

BASEBALL

* Catcher Jim Milkovich and pitcher T.J. Franco of Chaminade High committed Monday to San Francisco.

Milkovich led the Eagles with a .472 batting average last season. Franco was 5-1 with a 2.45 earned-run average.

* Hart outfielder Bill Susdorf, The Times’ Valley player of the year last season, committed to UCLA.

Susdorf batted .476 with 13 doubles and 40 runs batted in. He had 10 saves as a relief pitcher.

* A memorial service for Jay Merrill, a longtime teacher and coach at Newbury Park and Thousand Oaks highs, will be held at the Newbury Park High performing arts center Friday at 1 p.m.