Spiers Gets Record Hit Streak

Joe Spiers of Moreno Valley Canyon Springs broke the state record for hits in consecutive games with a fifth-inning home run that helped the Cougars defeat host Riverside Poly, 9-4, in an Ivy League game Friday.

Spiers had tied Jason Kendall’s mark of 43 on Wednesday. Spiers made it 44 games after he had walked, reached on an error and been thrown out on a grounder up the middle. Kendall, who is now with the Pittsburgh Pirates, set the record while at Torrance from 1990 to 1992. The game was called shortly after the record-breaking homer because of rain.

Chris Urias went two for two with a home run and won his second game of the week on the mound for Canyon Springs (10-2, 4-1 in league play). Chris Rousch had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for Poly (8-4, 3-2).

*

Villa Park senior Mark Trumbo (5-1) gave up two hits and one walk and struck out nine batters in his third shutout of the season, a 4-0 Century League victory over Anaheim Canyon.

Trumbo had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run for Villa Park (9-1, 5-0), The Times’ fifth-ranked team in the Southland. Senior center fielder Mike Vass had a two-run home run in the seventh inning and two doubles in four at-bats.

Nick Casanova (4-1) pitched a complete game for No. 3 Canyon (9-3, 4-1).

-- Dan Arritt

Track and Field

Long Beach Poly athletes are expected to be out in force today in the Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills Invitational.

The Jackrabbits have lain low during the first month of the outdoor season, but they’re expected to use today’s meet as a high-caliber tuneup for the Arcadia Invitational next weekend.

Seniors Shalonda Solomon and Jasmine Lee, who accounted for 38 of Poly’s winning 62-point total in the state championships last year, are expected to compete in four events.

The meet starts at 8:30 a.m.

-- John Ortega

*

Long Beach Wilson won the girls’ 3,200-meter relay in 9:24.62 at the Texas Relays to record the fastest time in the nation this year. Southlake (Texas) Carroll was second in 9:27.36.

The Bruins (3:58.82) were second to Houston Westbury (3:58.00) in the sprint medley relay. Wilson was the top qualifier for today’s 1,600-meter relay final with a time of 3:47.48, but six other teams qualified at 3:52.0 or faster.

-- Mike Kennedy

Boys’ Tennis

Junior Carsten Ball of Corona del Mar, The Times’ top-ranked team in the Southland, is seeded seventh in the 2004 Easter Bowl under-18 singles tournament, which begins today in Palm Springs.

Ball, the No. 1 singles player for the Sea Kings, faces David Stone of Greensboro, N.C., at 11:15 a.m. Santa Ana Mater Dei’s Kaes Van’t Hof and Wes Burroughs, Anaheim Servite’s Jonathan Sanchez and Santa Barbara’s Blake Muller are among the other entrants.

Lee Singer of Laguna Niguel is seeded fourth, and Sam Querry of Thousand Oaks is seeded fifth in the boys’ under-16 division. Pacific Palisades’ Jordan Abergel is seeded third in the boys’ 14s.

-- Elia Powers

Girls’ Basketball

Marc Hill, who coached girls’ basketball at Anaheim Esperanza for 24 seasons, has resigned after compiling a 394-189 record, winning nine league titles and reaching the Southern Section finals in 1983 and 2001.

“He just needs a break, and he’s interested in pursuing his master’s degree,” said Dianne Genduso, Esperanza’s athletic director. “He said he may come back, in golf, or lower-level basketball. He’s keeping his options open.”

But Genduso indicated Hill would not return to the varsity basketball program. Matt Roberts, who has been the junior varsity coach, will replace Hill.

-- Martin Henderson