Briefs: Ex-Lion Akins hot for Loons

Former Vanguard University baseball player Nick Akins, now playing professionally in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization, had an eight-game hitting streak through Thursday for the Great Lakes Loons of the Class-A Midwest League.

Akins, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound outfielder, was 10 for 29 during the streak (.345), which has lifted his average to .250 through 92 at-bats with the Loons. He had two home runs, 11 runs batted in and was successful on five of seven stolen-base attempts for the team, based in Midland, Mich.

In 102 at-bats earlier this season at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, Akins hit .245 with two homers, eight RBIs and one stolen base.

The hitting streak began June 30, and was then interrupted by Akins being sidelined nearly a month with an injury. He returned to action on July 27.

— Barry Faulkner

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UCI golfers 14th

UC Irvine women’s golfers Michelle Park and Ronnie Valerio finished tied for 14th at the third annual Pure Silk Women’s Collegiate Team Championship, completed Thursday at Wedgewood Golf & Country Club in Powell, Ohio.

The Anteaters’ 54-hole score was 298 over the three-day event, which consisted of a round of alternate shot, best ball as well as the final aggregate score.

Players from all levels of collegiate golf including Division I, II and III programs made up the 54 teams at the event, presented by the national golf coaches assn.

Park earned second-team All-Big West Conference honors as a junior last season.

Valerio will be a junior in 2012-13.

Erica Popson and A.J. Newell from Tennessee won the tournament with a score of 286.

— From staff reports

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Former ‘Eater shines in event

Former UC Irvine golfer John Chin finished 22nd in the Web.com Tour’s Children’s Hospital Invitational that concluded Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.

Chin shot a final round one-under-par 70 to finish with a 72-hole total of four-under 280.

Ben Kohles defeated Luke Guthrie in a playoff to win the tournament. They both finished at 12-under 272.

As a senior at UCI, Chin ranked No. 1 in the final 2010 Golfstat Cup with a 70.05 average and he finished first in four tournaments.

He had 11 top-10 finishes, including eight top-fives finishes.

Chin was the first UCI player to earn first-team All-American recognition and he was also named to the 2010 All-Nicklaus team.

He was a three-time Big West Conference Golfer of the Year and two-time medalist at the Big West Conference Championship, including in 2010 when he won the 54-hole tournament by nine shots.

Chin was a member of the 2010 United States Palmer Cup team that defeated Europe, 13-11, in Northern Ireland.

— From staff reports