HONORS

Track and field athletes Clinte Motley and LaShaunda Fowler were named Cal State Northridge Student-Athletic Council athletes of the month for February.

Motley, a sophomore long jumper and triple jumper, was selected field athlete of the meet at the Big Sky Conference indoor track and field championships last month in Pocatello, Idaho, where he scored 30 points in four events, a championship meet record.

In one week last month, Fowler, a sophomore, won the 60-meter dash in 7.58 seconds at the conference indoor track and field championships, and then came off the bench to score five points and help the Northridge women’s basketball team clinch the Big Sky title with a victory over Weber State.

Charles Cooke, a baseball player at Antelope Valley College in 1997 and 1998, was recently chosen from among 17 finalists for the 1998 JC Commission on Athletics-Wilson Sporting Goods Scholar-Athlete award.

Cooke, a pitcher as a freshman for the Marauders in 1997 and a first baseman-designated hitter during his sophomore season last year, maintained a 4.0 grade-point average at Antelope Valley.

He has since transferred to UC San Diego. Aileen Bennett of Orange Coast College won the women’s award.

Cooke was the only athlete from the region among the men’s finalists. The women’s finalists included Antelope Valley College softball player Kristal Nessa and Ventura swimmer Kathy Macropol.

Andrew Morrow of Agoura High, Jeff Illions of Moorpark, John Harris of Newbury Park, Royal’s Matt Janousek, Simi Valley’s Shaun Michel, Thousand Oaks’ Dan Babauta and Albert Kim of Westlake were named to the Marmonte League’s all-academic basketball team.

BASKETBALL

Former Notre Dame High guard Jamie Dixon is a leading candidate to become the next coach at Northern Arizona.

Dixon served as an assistant coach for four years at Northern Arizona before leaving to become an assistant this season at Hawaii. He is expected to interview for the position after Ben Howland becomes coach at Pittsburgh on Monday.

Channel Islands senior Jaline Bradley was named player of the year in the Pacific View League. Camarillo’s John Harbour, in his first season, was selected coach of the year.

SOCCER

Jose Freire, Birmingham High boys’ soccer coach the last 10 seasons, said he does not expect to guide the Patriots next season.

Freire, who helped Birmingham to three Northwest Valley Conference titles from 1995-97 and to runner-up finishes the last two seasons, said his recent move to Pasadena is the primary reason he would step down.

Casey Schmidt of Newbury Park High and Tasha Spangler of Westlake were named offensive most valuable players of the All-Marmonte League boys’ and girls’ soccer teams.

Newbury Park’s Cause Hanna and Westlake’s Ryan Woods were selected co-defensive MVPs for the boys’ team, while Simi Valley’s John Wielkie was named the top goalkeeper and Newbury Park’s Guy Sanford earned coach of the year honors.

Agoura’s Mary Stuart was selected the defensive MVP of the girls’ team, and Agoura Coach Kim Warren was named girls’ coach of the year.

BASEBALL

A scholarship trust fund has been established in memory of former Little League administrator Merle Sanders to assist needy players involved in District 40 youth baseball.

Sanders, who was a District 40 administrator for more than 20 years, passed away two weeks ago.

Information: Annette Gagliano, (818) 893-8597 or (818) 892-8941.

Individual games for the Lancaster JetHawks’ 1999 season go on sale today at 9 a.m. at the Hangar ticket office.

Players are being sought to participate in Burbank High’s annual alumni baseball game Sunday at Burbank High. Information: Jeff Selco, (818) 953-5146.

AUTO RACING

Ventura Raceway opens its 1999 IMCA Sprint Car and VRA Stock Car seasons at 7 p.m. tonight.

Gates will open to the public at 5 tonight, with pits opening at 2 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and military personnel.

Cost for high school and junior high students with valid identification is $5, and children 12 and under get in free when accompanied by an adult.

Information: (805) 985-5433.