COLLEGE NOTES

Martin Janzon, a linebacker at Orange Coast College, has signed to play at USC.

Janzon, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound native of Norrkoping, Sweden, was named JC All-American last season and was the Mission Conference’s defensive player of the year. He had a team-high 139 tackles.

Cal State Fullerton’s Kirk Saarloos has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2001 Rotary Smith Award, presented annually to the nation’s top college baseball player. The winner will be named in Houston on June 28.

The Titans’ senior right-hander is also a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Year award candidate and a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. Saarloos is tied for second in the nation with 13 wins and has an ERA of 2.03, the 19th-best mark in the NCAA. He has won 13 consecutive games, including seven complete games, four shutouts and a no-hitter against Pacific on April 8.

Other semifinalists are starting pitchers Kenny Baugh of Rice, Dewon Brazelton of Middle Tennessee, Aaron Heilman of Notre Dame, Mark Prior of USC and Justin Pope of Central Florida, along with UCLA designated hitter Brian Baron, shortstop Chris Burke of Tennessee, third baseman Jake Gautreau of Tulane, outfielder John-Ford Griffin of Florida State, catcher Casey Meyers of Arizona State and first baseman/relief pitcher John VanBenschoten of Kent State.

Former Titan Mark Kotsay won the award in 1995.

Pacific senior D.J. Houlton, from Yorba Linda, was named one of three national players of the week and also Big West Conference pitcher of the week by Collegiate Baseball.

Houlton, who played for Servite High and Santa Ana College, pitched the 12th no-hitter in Pacific history on Friday in an 8-0 victory over UC Riverside. On the season he is 8-5 with a 3.90 ERA and 85 strikeouts.