BRIEFS

EVANS EARNS HONORS

UC Irvine senior Brad Evans has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Far West Region first team.

Evans was also invited to participate in the 2007 Adidas Major League Soccer Player combine Jan. 5-8 at Lockart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Evans become only the second player to earn All-Far West Region first-team honors as former Anteater Jon Spencer (2001) is the other honoree. Evans was named to the All-Far West Region second team last year.

Evans is the first UCI player to be invited to the participate in the combine. Former Anteater and current UCI assistant coach Lawrence Smalls is the only UCI player to be drafted by Major League Soccer.

The 2007 MLS SuperDraft is on Jan. 12 in Indianapolis.

PONY LEAGUE SIGN-UPS

The Costa Mesa Pony League will hold sign-ups for the 2007 spring season on Saturday from 9 am. To noon at Costa Mesa High in front of the main gym. The Pony Division is for players 13 and 14 years old. Fees are $175 per player. For more information call, (714) 318-3482.

ERICKSON, GORGEN ON LIST

UC Irvine senior Blair Erickson and sophomore Scott Gorgen have been named to the Roger Clemens Award preseason watch list. The annual award honors college baseball’s Pitcher of the Year and is administered by the Greater Houston Baseball Association, a non-profit organization.

The list is comprised of 62 of the top college pitchers and will be presented at a gala dinner next July.

It is the third straight year that Erickson has earned a spot on the watch list. The right-hander, a three-time All-Big West Conference selection, returns as UC Irvine’s all-time save leader with 40. Erickson, who was also named to the Wallace Award watch list last week, is six saves away from tying the Big West Conference record and nine shy of the national mark. In 2006, Erickson was 5-0 on the mound with a 2.06 ERA. He struck out 57 in 52.1 innings and did not allow an earned run in 30.1 innings of work.

Gorgen had a stellar freshman season, earning Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors. The right-hander also was tabbed a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. Gorgen led the team and was ranked 52nd in the nation with an ERA of 2.54. He was second on the team and eighth in the conference with 87 strikeouts. Gorgen posted a 7-5 record and combined for two shutouts last season.

Erickson and Gorgen are two of four representatives from the Big West Conference, joining Cal State Fullerton’s Wes Roemer and James Simmons of UC Riverside.

Previous winners of the Roger Clemens Award are Jered Weaver (Long Beach State), Luke Hochevar (Tennessee) and Andrew Miller (North Carolina).