Easy pickings: Not to rain on Cal...

Easy pickings: Not to rain on Cal State Northridge’s parade, because even marginal success is new for the basketball program, but seven of the Matadors’ eight victories have come against teams with losing records.

The eight teams were a combined 19-46 before playing Northridge. Those teams now have a combined record of 32-78.

Underplayed: Northridge and Pepperdine are unranked in the Baseball America preseason poll but both are among teams the magazine predicts will earn regional berths.

Pepperdine’s Randy Wolf, a junior left-hander from El Camino Real High, is a second-team All-American pick by the magazine.

Junior left-hander Jim Parque of UCLA and Crescenta Valley High also is a second-team pick, and sophomore right-hander Jeff Weaver of Fresno State and Simi Valley High is a third-team pick.

Ring wearers: The 1996 Northridge baseball team will receive Western Athletic Conference championship rings before a home game against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Jan. 25.

Parting of ways: Kris Swanson, who recently left the Northridge men’s soccer team and dropped out of school, said his college career likely is over.

Swanson, a former standout at Granada Hills High and Mission College, was a touted junior transfer with the Matadors last season. He scored only three goals, however, and clashed with Coach Marwan Ass’ad.

“It wasn’t what I expected,” Swanson said. “The way [Ass’ad] motivates isn’t real positive and the whole season just wasn’t a fun time.”