OCC Men to Play for Volleyball Title

Orange Coast College advanced to the state community college men’s volleyball championship match by defeating El Camino, 25-17, 25-22, 25-22, Friday at Long Beach College.

Looking for its first state title in seven years, Orange Coast (21-1) will face L.A. Pierce in the final at 7 tonight.

B.J. Lightvoet led Orange Coast with 12 kills and Dave Engle had eight kills and five blocks.

BASEBALL

Cal State Fullerton pitcher Kirk Saarloos has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the 2001 Dick Howser Trophy, presented to the top college baseball player as selected by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn.

Saarloos, honored this season as the NCBWA national pitcher of the week, is 10-2 with a 1.65 earned-run average. He has seven complete games and a no-hitter, the third in Titan history, on April 8 against Pacific.

* Chad Cordero, a Titan freshman relief pitcher, shared Big West Conference pitcher-of-the-week honors with Cal State Northridge’s Andy Davidson.

Cordero pitched 4 1/3 innings of hitless relief in four games. He struck out five of the eight batters he faced in last weekend’s series against Northridge and earned his sixth save.

SURFING

Despite wind-blown conditions and smaller-than-normal waves, three-time world champion Tom Curren won his two heats, advancing to the final heats of the Quicksilver Pro at Lower Trestles, the season’s first stop on the Professional Surfing Tour of America.

Curren battled Taylor Knox of Carlsbad in the fifth and sixth rounds, winning his fifth-round heat by count-back after tying Knox, 21-21. Curren handily won the next round, scoring 18.10. Knox took second with 14.35. The top two advance to today’s final heats.

Also advancing was Pat O’Connell of Laguna Niguel, who won both his heats and posted the top heat score of the day (22.25); Jeff Deffenbaugh of Huntington Beach, and former San Clemente resident Shea Lopez. Also competing in the final heats today are Bron Heussenstamm of Laguna Beach, Ryan Simmons of Huntington Beach and David Pinto of Dana Point. Competition begins at 10 a.m.

SOCCER

Eddie Soto, formerly of Cal State Fullerton, had a goal and two assists to lead the Orange County Blue Star to a 4-1 victory over the Southern California Seahorses in a Premier Development League soccer game at Santa Ana Stadium.

Joe Cartlidge and Seth George (Santa Margarita High) also scored for the Blue Star.

Adriano Lima, a Pacifica High graduate and a first-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection in 2000 for the Cypress College men’s team, has signed a letter of intent with Cal State Fullerton.

WATER POLO

Erin Wilson, an All-Southern Section selection from Marina High, has signed to play at USC, her mother Colleen said.