Northridge Softball Team Opens With Triple Play

Cal State Northridge, No. 15 in the national softball rankings, opens its season this weekend by hosting a five-team, round-robin tournament before hitting the road for the rest of February.

On Saturday at Northridge, the Matadors will play Loyola Marymount at 8 a.m., Northwestern at noon and Oregon State at 2 p.m.

The Matadors face San Diego State at noon Sunday at Northridge and Loyola Marymount at 4 p.m. at McCambridge Recreation Center in Burbank.

The tournament champion will be determined by winning percentage.

Northridge won’t play at home again until March 11, when the Matadors host defending national champion Arizona, which is ranked No. 1.

SOCCER

New Wave: Carlie Stokes, a midfielder for the Chaminade High girls, will accept a scholarship from Pepperdine, Chaminade Coach Mike Evans said. Stokes, a senior transfer from Santa Maria Righetti, earned All-Southern Section honors last season.

BASKETBALL

Sidelined: Lou Cvijanovich, Santa Clara High boys’ coach for the last 40 years, is scheduled to have gallbladder surgery today.

In his absence, the Saints will be guided by assistant Steve Cvijanovich, Lou’s son.

Dismissed: Sylmar guard Brandon Jacobs, the Spartans’ leading scorer, has been removed from the team by Coach Bort Escoto.

Escoto would not elaborate why Jacobs was dismissed, saying only that he will not return this season.

Without Jacobs, who was averaging 16 points a game, Sylmar beat Reseda last week and Van Nuys on Wednesday.