BRIEFS:

Ralph Grajeda, a former Riverside Community College assistant, has been hired to be the Vanguard University baseball coach, the school announced Wednesday.

Grajeda’s hiring ended a month-long search after Vanguard announced former coach Scott Mallernee had resigned.

Mallernee was the Lions’ coach for four years, compiling a 72-110 record.

Grajeda takes over for a team that went 17-31 this past year.

“I am humbed and honored for the opportunity to be Vanguard University’s head baseball coach,” Grajeda said in release. “It has been a 13-year journey and I thank God for this gift.”

For two years, Grajeda worked as an assistant coach at Riverside, where he helped the Tigers win the state championship in 2007 and to a state runner-up finish this past season.

Prior to Riverside, Grajeda was the athletic director at JSerra for two years, coaching baseball in his final year. He led JSerra to a 19-10 record.

Grajeda’s coaching resume also includes stops at UC Davis, Saddleback College and Foothill High and Servite.

In addition to high school and collegiate experience, Grajeda has also been an associate scout for the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers.

BIG GAME AHEAD

The U.S. women’s water polo team, ranked No. 1 in the world, will play against No. 2 Australia in an exhibition game Friday at 7 p.m. the national training center in Los Alamitos.

This is the last game for the Americans before they play in the Beijing Olympics. Team USA opens Olympic play against China Aug. 11.

There will be a fireworks show after the game. The first 100 fans to the game receive an autograph picture.

For ticket information, visit www.usawaterpolo.org.

ANTEATERS WIN

Kari Pestolesi and Keegan Featherstone, along with their respective partners Olivia Waldowski and Lauren Fendrick, are undefeated after the first day of the 2008 World University Beach Volleyball Championships in Hamburg, Germany.

Pestolesi and Waldowski fell in the first set to Spain but recovered to win the best-of-three contest and went on to sweep Japan, 2-0. Estonia (2-0) and Spain (0-2) round out the four-team pool.

Featherstone and Fendrick are 2-0 for Team USA while New Zealand and Japan are 1-1. Canada is 0-2 on the day.

Twenty-four countries are participating in the competition that runs through Sunday.

Complete information can be found at www.wubc2008.de.

— From staff reports