SPORTSCASTER JIM ROME BACKS THE TROJANS
Nationally known sportscaster Jim Rome, of CBS Sports Radio, has been attending many University High baseball games to see his son, Jake, play for the Trojans. Jake Rome was named to the all-tournament team at the Ryan Lemmon Invitational in April.
FUTURE MEETING OF FORMER TEAMMATES?
Jackson Lyon of Woodbridge signed a national letter of intent to play baseball for Cal State Fullerton last fall. Lyon, a senior this year, could wind up facing a former Warrior, Zak Baayoun, an outstanding sophomore pitcher at Long Beach State, when the teams meet in 2019. Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State are arch rivals in the Big West Conference. Baayoun and Lyon were teammates on Woodbridge’s 2016 team that was 23-8 and lost to Redondo Union 2-1 in the CIF Division 3 finals.
SOFTBALL PLAYERS MOVING ON
The City of Irvine continues to showcase outstanding high school softball players, many who will be playing in college next year. They include Irvine High’s Trina Hoang (Harvard University) and Amanda Morgan (Texas Lutheran); Woodbridge High’s Sofie Adams (St. Lawrence University), Joanna Michaels (Bowling Green University), Kayla Guerrero (Briar Cliff University) and Hannah Sasaki (University of Illinois); Northwood High’s Kaitlyn Lologo (St. John’s University) and Angelique “Kiki” Besnard (Georgetown) and Beckman’s Christy Kelly (Southern University).
IRVINE PONY TOURNAMENT IN MAY
Irvine Pony Baseball will once again hold its annual Pony Memorial Day Tournament beginning with opening ceremonies on Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Harvard Park, field 3. More than 220 teams are scheduled to compete including teams from Mexico, California and Hawaii throughout the Memorial Day weekend.
SWIM FUN
It will be a busy summer for teams in the Irvine Swim League (ISL). Neighborhood meets will be held throughout the city on most Saturdays beginning June 23 and a new team in the Stonegate area joins the league, according to Lizzie Howard, executive director of the ISL. About 2,600 young swimmers, aged 5-18, will compete in the 10-week season which wraps up on Aug. 11 with the league finals. Teams in the league include the Deerfield Bluefins, the Greentree Gators, the Oak Creek Orcas, the Turtle Rock Sharks and the College Park Splash. There are also more than 200 teen and adult coaches in the league, Howard added.
Tim Burt has covered Irvine sports since 1984, writing for the Irvine World News, Orange County Register and OC Varsity.
