Saarloos Earns Top Big West Honor

Kirk Saarloos of Cal State Fullerton was selected Big West Conference pitcher of the year and Bobby Crosby of Long Beach State was named conference player of the year, the Big West announced Tuesday.

UC Santa Barbara’s Bob Brontsema was named coach of the year. The Gauchos finished second to Fullerton in conference and will make their first NCAA regional appearance since 1996.

The awards were determined by a vote of conference coaches.

Saarloos (13-2) leads the Big West in victories, strikeouts (137) and earned-run average (2.26).

Crosby, a shortstop from La Quinta High, batted .441 in conference and .343 overall.

Fullerton second baseman David Bacani became the first player to be selected to the first team four times.

Chan Ly of Chapman was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Division III men’s tennis finals by Eric Butorac of Gustavus Adolphus College of Saint Peter, Minn., 6-4, 7-5.

* Five players have signed with the women’s water polo team at UC Irvine, the school announced. They include Adelaide Perram of Agoura High, who was the CIF Southern Section Division II player of the year.

Two-meter player Jennina Chiavetta (Modesto High), drivers Aleah Amr (Sunny Hills) and Margaret Feeney (Mission Hills Alemany) and utility Karly Tivenan (El Dorado High) also signed.

Irvine completed its first season 3-31.

Huntington Beach’s Robin Beauregard, now playing water polo at UCLA, was selected to the Verizon spring women’s at-large academic second team.

The Bruin sophomore has a 3.44 grade-point average.