Three County Players Are Second Team All-State

Matt Leinart, a Mater Dei quarterback, and running backs Temitope Sonuyi of Esperanza and Darryl Poston of Edison were selected to the second-team offense of the CalHiSports.com all-state football team announced this week.

Leinart completed 192 of 309 passes for 2,847 yards and 27 touchdowns. Sonuyi led the county in rushing with 363 carries for 2,492 yards. Poston, who was a “multi-purpose” selection as a running back and kick returner, carried 255 times for 1,593 yards.

In addition to its main team, covering schools of all sizes, CalHiSports.com also selected separate all-state teams for medium and small school divisions. Jon Talmage, the Orange Lutheran wide receiver who led the county with 85 catches for 1,399 yards, was the only county player selected to either team, making the small-school offense.

Players receiving honorable mention:

Offensive line--Josh Birrell (Esperanza); Running back--Chris Manderino (Newport Harbor), Tyler Thompson (Santa Margarita); Defensive line--Alex deBrucky (Esperanza), Justin Tomerlin (San Clemente); Linebacker--Ian Gunderman (Mater Dei); Defensive back--Joe Bollard (Irvine), Matt McCoy (Tustin).

BASEBALL

The Cal State Fullerton baseball team is ranked No. 15 in Baseball America’s preseason rankings announced Wednesday.

Stanford, which will play a three-game series at Fullerton Feb. 2-4, is ranked 14th. Pepperdine, which will host the Titans in the season opener Jan. 30, is 18th.

SOCCER

Stacey Juhl has been named coach for the inaugural women’s soccer team at Saddleback College, the school announced.

Juhl, who also coaches the girls’ team at San Clemente High, is a graduate of Dana Hills High and California. Saddleback’s team will begin play in the fall.

TENNIS

Aaron Yovan of University High celebrated the new year by winning the boys’ 16 division of the USTA Super National Winter Championships in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Yovan, who lost only two sets over the seven day-event, defeated second-seeded Luke Shields of Grand Junction, Colo, 6-2, 6-0, Monday in the final. In the semifinals, Yovan beat Sergio Modoc of El Dorado, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

In the girls’ 16 singles, Corona del Mar sophomore Anne Yelsey won the consolation final over Nicole Leimbach of Colorado Springs, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0. On the way to the final, Leimbach defeated Dana Hills’ Kady Pooler and Canyon’s Tracy Lin in straight sets.