Two Might Join WAC in Baseball, Softball

SAN DIEGO —  Cal State Northridge and Cal State Sacramento have been extended invitations to join the Western Athletic Conference in baseball and softball in 1993, according to WAC Commissioner Joe Kearney.

The move is pending approval of presidents of conference schools and then needs to receive a final stamp of approval at the WAC athletic directors’ meetings next spring, but a source close to the conference said it is a “done deal.”

“They’ve exhibited interest,” Kearney said. “We’ve still got some official action to take.”

And those might not be the only moves by the WAC. Conference athletic directors met with all but two athletic directors from the Big West--those from Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach--in Los Angeles last month to discuss merging several Olympic sports into what is currently being called the Big Western Conference. The goal is to split into tighter geographical divisions, which would cut expenses and reduce missed class time.

The merger has been approved by the Big West Conference and is awaiting approval from WAC presidents, according to Big West Commissioner Jim Haney.

“We feel it is a good way to go to,” Haney said. “It’s going to help our Olympic sports in terms of expenses and class time.”

Representatives from the WAC-Big West group have also talked with the Pac 10 about joining their Olympic sports merger and intend to speak with athletic directors from the West Coast Conference and Big Sky Conference. Haney said there has already been some interest from the Pac 10.

Sports that will be included, according to Haney, are men’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s indoor track, men’s water polo, women’s golf and wrestling.