Briefs: UCI’s Yee lauded

UC Irvine women’s golfer Taryn Yee has been named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Assn All-American Scholar Team.

Yee, who just completed her junior year, also earned the honor in 2011. The business administration major is a three-time UCI Scholar-Athlete and has recently been named to the Big West Spring All-Academic team.

A total of 644 women’s collegiate golfers were recognized with the honor. The criteria were a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 over a collegiate career and participating in half of the team’s competition.

— From staff reports

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Ex-Lions in pros

Former Vanguard University pitchers Kamakani Usui and Travis Tomsen are now playing professional baseball.

Usui, signed as a free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays, who have assigned the right-hander to their rookie team in the Gulf Coast League. The team is based in Dunedin, Fla.

In five games since his arrival on June 21, Usui has worked five relief innings without allowing a run.

Tomsen, also a right-hander, is competing for the Peoria (Ariz.) Explorers in the Freedom League.

Tomsen was 3-7 with a 3.48 earned-run average in 14 starts for the Lions in 2013. In 85 1/3 innings, he allowed 71 hits, struck out 53 and walked 35. Opponents hit .224 against him.

Usui was 4-6 in 13 starts for Vanguard last season with a 4.50 ERA. He allowed 94 hits in 80 innings, while striking out 45 and walking 31. Opponents hit .299 against him.

— From staff reports