WFC Football Coaches Pick CS Northridge to Finish Last

Cal State Northridge has been picked to finish last in the Western Football Conference coaches’ poll.

Portland State has been tabbed to win the conference title and is the top-rated NCAA Division II team in the nation, according to several publications. Cal State Sacramento finished second in the voting, followed by Southern Utah, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Northridge.

Cal Lutheran opens football practice today with its largest group of new players in Coach Joe Harper’s three seasons. Ninety players--40 returning lettermen and 50 newcomers--will begin two-a-day drills in preparation for the Sept. 12 opener at Mt. Clef Stadium against Pomona-Pitzer.

Jessica Creith of Northridge pitched a no-hitter and struck out 12 to help Los Angeles (4-0) earn a 9-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday in a preliminary-round softball game of the Maccabi Youth Games in Baltimore.

In girls’ soccer, Tami Pivnick of West Hills scored four goals in L.A.’s 9-0 win over Baltimore.

Fernando Vargas of Oxnard posted a 5-0 decision over Brendon Mitchem of Lincolnton, N.C., in the 112-pound division final of the U.S. Junior Olympic box-offs Wednesday at Colorado Springs, Colo.

Ron Winger of Tarzana averaged 227 for 24 games and held a 22-pin lead over Bob Hart after Wednesday’s third round of the PBA Senior event at Cheektowaga, N.Y.