ORANGE COUNTY SPORTS NEWSMAKERS

A GLANCE BACK, A LOOK AHEAD

PROS IN 2000

January

Laguna Beach’s Lindsay Davenport defeats Martina Hingis to win the Australian Open, leaving her one title, the French, from joining Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi as the only players to have won all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal.

August

Tiger Woods, a graduate of Western High, joins Ben Hogan as the only players to win three major titles in one year when he wins the PGA Championship. A month earlier, Woods, 24, had become only the fifth player - and the youngest - to win each of the sport’s four major tournaments - the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA.

The Angels become first team in AL history (seventh in majors) to have four players with 30 or more home runs in a single season (Garret Anderson, Troy Glaus, Tim Salmon and Mo Vaughn).

October

Angel Darin Erstad finishes season with 240 hits, tying for 12th most in major-league history.

Rookie Manager Mike Scioscia helps the Angels finish 82-80, a dramatic improvement over their 70-92 mark in 1999 but good for only third place in the AL West.

Galaxy defender Danny Califf finishes third in MLS rookie-of-the-year voting. Califf, from Orange High, was also selected to the U.S. national and Olympic teams.

November

San Francisco Giant Jeff Kent, a graduate of Edison High, becomes the first second baseman since Ryne Sandberg in 1984 to win the MVP award.

December

The Mighty Ducks fire Coach Craig Hartsburg 33 games into the season. Hartsburg had a record of 80-88-29 in two-plus seasons, and his Ducks were in last place in the NHL’s Pacific Division, where they finished last season.

Tony Gonzalez, a graduate of Huntington Beach High, sets the Kansas City Chiefs’ single-season reception record with 93 and becomes only the third tight end in NFL history to catch more than 90 passes in a season.

Angels Young, Old Head for Greener Fields: Veteran Salmon could be traded and Etherton’s a Red; Moore is hoping to find back of net; Tidland wants to grap tail of Tiger.

Tim Salmon - Angel Outfielder

In the last year of his contract, longtime team leader could find himself on the trading block if the Angels are out of playoff contention early and unwilling to fork over the money that it will take to re-sign him. Already mentioned in possible deals for a front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Underwent foot surgery in October and arthroscopic shoulder surgery in November. Had a streaky 2000 season - finishing with a .280 batting average, 34 homers, 107 runs, 104 walks and 97 RBIs - but look for a monster year in 2001, unless there is a work stoppage. Then, the Angel player rep will be really busy.

Pierre Gauthier - Duck President and General Manager

Said he wasn’t leaving Ottawa. Said he wouldn’t take another GM position. Said he wouldn’t replace longtime friend Jack Ferreira as Ducks GM. Said he wouldn’t fire Coach Craig Hartsburg. Now says he won’t trade star wingers Paul Kariya or Teemu Selanne. Look for the Ducks to announce a blockbuster trade any day now. Also says the only way to build a franchise is through the draft, so assume the Ducks will soon sign a bunch of expensive free agents . . . OK, it doesn’t work every time.

Joe-Max Moore - U.S. National Soccer Team Striker

Due to early-season knee injury and commitments to club team Everton of the English Premier League, played just four national team games for U.S. in 2000, but had two goals and two assists. His tight-rope dribbling display that set up Clint Mathis’ game-winning goal in a must-win match at Barbados on Nov. 15 was stuff of an all-time highlight film. Expect relentless forward, finalist for U.S. Player of Year, to provide scoring during national team’s World Cup quest.

Seth Etherton - Cincinnati Reds Pitcher

Was 5-1 with a 5.52 earned-run average before succumbing to shoulder tendinitis in August. Angels traded the 24-year-old right-hander, a first-round pick out of USC who played at Dana Hills High, to Cincinnati for shortstop Wilmy Caceres, who hit .268 with three home runs in double-A. A poised young pitcher on the verge of his prime traded by the Angels? Anticipate Etherton opening the season in Reds’ rotation and ending the year with more victories than anyone on the Angel staff.

Chris Tidland - PGA Rookie

After four unsuccessful attempts at earning his PGA card, finally made the cut in November. Rookies - other than Tiger Woods - don’t expect to make an immediate splash, but the Valencia High grad showed he’s got the right stuff to succeed in the PGA pressure cooker during his run at qualifying school. In 99th place after three rounds, he shot 63-68-69 and made the cut by three shots. Considering the guy who finished 45th on the 2000 money list won more than a $1 million, the pressure of earning your playing privileges at Q-School rivals a playoff with Tiger in a major.

New Wave Leading the Way; Osborn swings onto scene as a top player; records should fall in Sandeno’s wake; Sanford could soar to new heights

Frank Mazzotta - La Habra High football coach

Picked to finish fourth in the Freeway League in 2000, La Habra (12-2) won 12 consecutive games before losing to South Hills in the Division IX championship game. Son of Cerritos College football Coach Frank Mazzotta, the third-year coach will lose his top two offensive players, but don’t be surprised if Highlanders surprise pollsters again.

Jennifer Osborn - Marina High golf

Thirteen-year-old from Huntington Beach will be a freshman next fall and should have immediate impact. Had 24 first-place finishes in 52 Southern California PGA 12-14 Metro tourneys and led 2000 rankings with 2,095 points, almost double No. 2 finisher.

Jordan Harvey - Capistrano Valley High soccer

After spending almost two years living and practicing with the national team at residency camp in Bollettieri Sports Academy in Bradenton, Fla., the defender is expected to return to the Cougars next December for his senior year. After competing for his country in the FIFA Under-17 World Championships in Trinidad & Tobago in April, he figures to be a juggernaut when he returns to the prep pitch.

Robbie Dubois - Mission Viejo running back

Showing a rare combination of speed, power and toughness, the 5-10, 190-pound running back rushed for 2,366 yards and 26 touchdowns in 285 carries as a junior. Consensus opinion of area high school coaches is that he should blossom in 2001, drawing the attention of recruiters from the nation’s top Division I powerhouses.

Lindsey Nelson - Villa Park High tennis

Ranked No. 1 in Southern California 16s (16 and under), the 14-year-old freshman lost in the second round to the No. 16-seeded player in the world in the 16s at prestigious Orange Bowl Invitational in Miami recently. Teaming with Theresa Logar of Rochester Hills, Mich., made it to the 16s semifinals in doubles. Look for her to sweep a lot of sets next fall.

Ian Elliot - Foothill High water polo

The only junior on the first-team All-Orange County squad, the goalkeeper made 291 saves this year, third-highest total in school history. A member of the junior national team, was named goalkeeping co-Most Valuable Player as the U.S. won the gold medal with an 8-6 victory over Canada at the 2000 Pan Am Games in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

Kaitlin Sandeno - El Toro High swimmer

Olympian has sights set on breaking national high school records in the Southern Section Division I meet in May. Versatile competitor, who won the 100-yard butterfly and 500 freestyle in the meet last season without practicing for the events because of Olympic training, probably has only to choose in which events she wants to set national marks.

Michelle Sanford - Woodbridge High track and field

Won Sea View League, Orange County and Southern Section Division II 100-meter titles and state championship in the long jump as freshman last season. The 14-year-old continued to fly all summer, winning the intermediate girls’ long jump at the USATF National Junior Olympics and finishing second in the triple jump with a personal best 39 feet 10 inches.

Aimee Stachowski - Capistrano Valley High water polo

Oldest sister, Ashley plays at UCLA. Older sister, Amber, has signed with UCLA and is a member of the U.S. junior national team. But some coaches believe No. 3 will turn out to be No. 1. Nearing six feet and still growing, sophomore two-meter defender bypassed national team tryouts, but probably would have made the team.

Megan Blackshire; San Clemente volleyball/basketball

Will be one of the most highly recruited volleyball players in the county next fall. An accomplished middle blocker, the tremendously athletic 6-foot-2 junior also has tremendous potential for growth on the basketball court.

Dan Reid - Villa Park baseball

Left-hander was 9-0 with a 1.31 earned-run average and 72 strikeouts in 64 innings as a junior last season. Combined with Erik Averill to pitch a three-hitter against West Torrance in Division III championship game at Dodger Stadium. Signed with UCLA.

Courtney Fossatti - Foothill softball

First-team Times All-Orange County selection, who recently signed with Arizona, did it all to help the Knights to a No. 1 national ranking and a Division I championship last season. Was 23-1 with an 0.04 earned-run average and limited opponents to a .084 batting average while batting .360 with 29 runs batted in and 15 stolen bases.

PREPS IN 2000

February

Estancia forward Esaul Mendoza completes a spectacular senior season with a four-goal performance in the Eagles’ 5-2 victory over Torrance Bishop Montgomery in the Southern Section Division IV boys’ soccer final. Mendoza scores 47 goals in 22 games as the Eagles win their first section title in 15 years.

March

Brea Olinda wins its third consecutive state title, two weeks after having its streak of Southern Section girls’ basketball titles snapped at 11 by Redondo Beach Redondo Union. The Ladycats avenge that loss in the Southern California Regional final and beat Pleasanton Amador Valley, 47-34, in the state final.

May

Five months after leading Newport Harbor to a Southern Section football title, running back Andre Stewart is killed in a car crash. Three days after his death, more than 1,000 people gather at Newport Harbor’s football field to mourn.

June

Mater Dei and Foothill, ranked first and second nationally in softball, play for the Southern Section Division I title. Foothill wins, 1-0, beating Gatorade national player of the year Tia Bollinger.

September

Aaron Peirsol of Newport Harbor wins the silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke at the Sydney Olympics. Peirsol’s time of 1:57.35 is only 0.59 seconds behind gold medalist Lenny Krayzelburg of Studio City. Kaitlin Sandeno, a senior at El Toro, swims a personal best 8:24.29 and wins a bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle.

Concord De La Salle extends its football winning streak to 103 games with a 31-28 victory over Mater Dei before 15,000 at Edison Field. Mater Dei misses a chance to tie the score when kicker Bryan New pulls a 34-yard field goal wide left in the last minute.

December

The CIF sustains the athletic suspension of junior center Martin Iti, ending an eight-month saga that began with Iti transferring from Servite to Villa Park, his fourth school in two years. In mid-December, Iti is considering a transfer to Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.

Irvine caps an undefeated football season with a 14-0 shutout of Newport Harbor in the Southern Section Division VI championship game. The shutout is the Vaqueros’ third of the playoffs and it comes before an overflow crowd of 8,000 at Orange Coast College.

Corona del Mar junior Brittany Reitz becomes the first county tennis player in 10 years to win the Southern Section individual singles title.

COLLEGE IN 2000

February

Bob Hawking resigns as Cal State Fullerton men’s basketball coach effective at the end of the season; his six seasons produce a 59-103 record.

March

Cal State Fullerton freshman basketball player Rodney Anderson is critically wounded in a random shooting near his family’s home in Los Angeles before the team’s final game.

After three seasons, Denise Curry steps down as women’s basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton.

Vanguard advances to its third consecutive NAIA women’s national basketball tournament.

April

Donny Daniels is hired as men’s basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton, his alma mater, after 11 seasons as an assistant under Rick Majerus of Utah.

May

Cal State Fullerton shares the Big West Conference baseball championship with Nevada. The Titans host an NCAA regional baseball tournament for the first time, but lose to USC in the championship game.

The Chapman baseball team finishes third at the NCAA Division III tournament. The Panther softball team loses the Division III national championship game for the third consecutive season.

June

Cal State Fullerton’s Adam Johnson, the Big West Conference pitcher of the year, is the second player selected in the baseball draft and signs a $2.5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins.

July

UC Irvine hires USC assistant John Savage to coach its resurrected baseball program, which begins play in 2002.

October

UC Irvine installs lights at its campus stadium. The first night event is a women’s soccer game.

Olympic silver medalist Julie Swail returns from Sydney as UC Irvine women’s water polo coach.

November

Concordia women win NAIA national cross-country title; Tricia Mattson places seventh overall.

UC Irvine signs its first 16 baseball recruits.

Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine men’s soccer teams advance to postseason play; it’s the first postseason trip for Irvine.

UC Irvine’s top-ranked men’s water polo team loses both its games at the Mountain Pacific finals and fails to advance to the NCAA finals.

December

UC Irvine men’s basketball team defeats California, 65-61, snapping a 10-game losing streak to Pac-10 teams. Anteaters fall to UCLA, 65-60, a week later.

Impact Players Rock Collegiate Ranks: Palmer carries a heavy burden; Sampson is loaded with expectations; Sonuyi faces a weighty decision

Carson Palmer - USC football

Will have a profound effect on new Coach Pete Carroll’s approval rating with the fussy Trojan faithful, who turn into Grinches when their boys don’t play in a holiday bowl game. Another career day against UCLA - the former Santa Margarita High standout threw for four touch-downs and 350 yards in victory over Bruins - will help, but tying the school record for interceptions in a season (18) again just won’t do. Expect Carroll, a defensive specialist, to keep his quarterback on a short rein that gets tighter if turnovers mount.

Temitope Sonuyi - Harvard? Cal? Stanford? MIT?

Led Orange County high school rushers with 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior at Esperanza High in 2000. Has a 4.9 grade-point average and is No. 1 academically among 700 seniors in his class. Already having been accepted to Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s engineering program, he may make headlines by deciding not to play football and concentrate on his studies in college.

Adam Parada - UC Irvine basketball

Will be attracting NBA scouts to the Bren Center for a number of reasons: a 7-foot frame, a soft jump hook, agility and mobility. Off-season training with former UCLA and Utah Jazz post man Mark Eaton is already paying dividends for the redshirt freshman who averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds at Alta Loma High and figures to become even more of a force as he adds pounds and muscles.

Jamal Sampson - Cal basketball

Mater Dei center will arrive in Northern California with great expectations despite an up-and-down, injury-and-illness-plagued high school career. Six-foot-11, 240-pound post man should move right into the starting lineup for the rebuilding Bears and have plenty of opportunities to either wow or disappoint. Look for his highlight dunks to electrify and his sometimes lackadaisical approach to stupefy.

Kirk Saarloos - Cal State Fullerton baseball

Strong-armed right-handed reliever had the Big West Conference’s best earned-run average last season at 2.32, going 7-5 with eight saves. Was the closer for Team USA during the summer and gave up only 10 hits and two runs - one earned - in 26 2/3 innings for a 0.34 ERA. Scheduled for an unusual dual role next season, moving into the rotation as a starter for Sunday games and will serve as the closer for Friday games.