BRIEFS

VANGUARD ADDS MCBRIEN

The Vanguard University athletic department announced on Tuesday that it hired Alise McBrien to fill the newly added Assistant Athletic Trainer position. McBrien graduated from Vanguard University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training. While she was a student at Vanguard, McBrien was chosen the Athletic Training Student of the Year in 2003 and 2004.

She also played two seasons on the Vanguard women’s soccer team and was named the Lions’ Female Co-Champion of Character as a senior defender in 2003.

After leaving Vanguard, McBrien earned a Master of Arts degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training from the graduate program at San Jose State. McBrien is slated to join Vanguard’s Athletic Training staff in the middle of July.

“I can see that the Vanguard Athletic Department has a wonderful vision and goal for its athletes to not only be successful on the playing field, but to also succeed personally, professionally, and spiritually,” said McBrien in a press release from the school. “I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge, experiences, and my spiritual walk with the student-athletes and athletic training students, as well as the staff and faculty of Vanguard.”

EX-ANTEATER SIGNS

Cal State Los Angeles senior baseball player R.J. Brown, who transferred there from UC Irvine, has signed a free-agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Brown, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound first baseman, hit .415 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs for the Golden Eagles this past season, earning second-team All-California Collegiate Athletic Assn. honors.

In addition to leading the Golden Eagles in the triple crown categories, Brown also compiled a .774 slugging percentage and a .495 on-base percentage.

Brown was expected to report to the Reds’ affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.

UCI FOURTH IN STANDINGS

UC Irvine took fourth place in the final 2005-06 Big West Commissioner’s Cup overall standings, which were released on Wednesday. Long Beach State won the Cup for the first time.

The Commissioner’s Cup is presented to the university with the best overall results in the Big West Conference’s 17 sponsored sports.

It marks the eighth year the Cup has been awarded. Pacific won the Cup the first two years and UC Santa Barbara won it the last five years before getting dethroned by the 49ers this season.

Long Beach State (126.2 points) won Big West titles in women’s tennis and men’s track and field and were co-champions in women’s volleyball and women’s basketball. UC Santa Barbara took second with 107.5 points, Cal State Fullerton was third with 97.5 points and UC Irvine finished with 84.4 points.

CHAMBERLAIN SPARKLES

Newport Beach resident Carly Chamberlain helped handle the crew duties for the Georgetown University sailing team in the ICSA/Layline National Team Racing Championships in Charleston, South Carolina, which concluded May 30.

Georgetown emerged with their second national team racing championship.

In the championship rounds, the Hoyas dropped just three aces out of 14.

YOUTH BASEBALL CAMPS

The Newport Harbor High baseball program will offer summer camp sessions for players ages 6-14, beginning June 26 at the Sailors’ field.

Five, four-day youth camp sessions for players ages 6-10 will be held Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon.

These sessions are scheduled June 26-29, July 10-13, July 17-20, July 24-27 and July 31-Aug. 3.

One middle school camp for players ages 11-14 is set for July 10-13.

All camps will offer drills appropriate to age and skill levels and feature instruction on basic fielding, hitting, base running and game experience.

Instruction will be offered by experienced players and coaches from local high school and college programs.

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