Ventura’s Ward Wins State Honor

Ventura College forward Hakeem Ward has been selected junior college state co-player of the year with Joe Wyatt, a sophomore guard from Sequoias.

Ward, a freshman, averaged 12.6 points and 7.5 rebounds during the regular season and helped the Pirates (37-1) win the State title with an 80-61 victory over West Valley last Saturday at UC Irvine.

Also named to the team were Charlie Garcia, a sophomore forward who averaged 24.5 points and 8.0 rebounds at Glendale, and Orville Turner, a sophomore forward who averaged 26.8 points and 8.1 rebounds at Antelope Valley.

Softball

Buena High first baseman Bevan Trueblood has committed to play at Cal State Fullerton and Bulldog outfielder Michelle Cordes will play at University of the Pacific, Buena Coach Sharon Coggins said.

Trueblood, an All-State player last year, hit .413 with 18 runs batted in. Cordes, also an All-State pick, hit .500. Buena’s Kim Herman committed to Oregon last month.

Golf

Jacob Lusk and Nolley Adkison of Cal State Northridge each rallied with one-over 73s in the final round to finish in a tie for 17th this week in the University of San Diego/Ashworth Golf Invitational at EastLake Country Club in Chula Vista.

Lusk and Adkison finished with 54-hole totals of 227. Teammate Shane O’Brien finished in a tie for 22nd at 228. Eleven teams were entered. Northridge finished tied for seventh at 911.

Swimming

Buena High sophomore Rebecca Gilman timed 8 minutes 49.35 seconds to finish sixth in the 800-meter freestyle in the United States national indoor swimming championships in Minneapolis this week.

Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans won the event with a time of 8:40.66.

Soccer

The Marmonte League has named Royal High’s Tim Pederson as offensive most valuable player and Simi Valley’s Billy Castonguay as defensive MVP in boys’ soccer.

Pederson, a senior midfielder, had 14 goals and 14 assists as the Highlanders won the Southern Section Division I title. Castonguay, a junior stopper, recovered from a broken arm in midseason to help the Pioneers to the Division I semifinals.

Agoura’s Mike Cassidy was named best goalkeeper and Royal’s Kevin Corley was selected coach of the year.

Santa Clara’s Cande Ruiz and Candice Garcia have been named most valuable forward and most valuable midfielder of the Frontier League. The two sophomores helped the Saints win the league title and advance to the semifinals of Southern Section Division IV.

M Santa Paula’s Jennifer Hendren was named the Frontier League’s most valuable fullback. The Cardinals were a wild-card entry in the Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

Santa Clara’s Bob Garcia was voted coach of the year.

Wrestling

San Fernando High School will hold a freestyle wrestling tournament Saturday.

Tiger Coach Mike Castillo is expecting between 400 and 600 entries of all ages, including open high school and college classes.

Admission is free, with weigh-ins starting at 7 a.m. and the first matches scheduled for 10.

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Contributing: Fernando Dominguez, Steve Elling, Darin Esper, Jeff Fletcher, Michael Lazarus, Tris Wykes.