BRIEFS

OCC coach contributes

Ruby Rojas, the Orange Coast College softball coach who played for Venezuela in the Beijing Olympic Games, finished three for 13 (a .231 average) with three runs and one run batted in in seven games.

Rojas, the starting left fielder, batted cleanup most of the tournament, which opened with a humbling 11-0 loss to the United States, the eventual silver medalist.

Venezuela lost its first three games before posting back-to-back wins over the Netherlands, an 8-0 verdict, and Canada, a 2-0 triumph. In the win over the Netherlands, Rojas had her best game with the bat, going one for one with a walk. She scored two runs and drove in another.

Venezuela completed its Olympic experience Monday and finished with a 2-5 record.

Rojas helped Venezuela win a silver medal at the 2007 Pan-American Games in Brazil.

Rojas, born in Maracay, Venezuela, helped Mater Dei High earn CIF State Division I titles in 1996 and 1998, before becoming a three-time first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference third baseman in four seasons at the University of Virginia.

— Barry Faulkner

Hassan finishes fourth

Costa Mesa resident Omar Hassan finished fourth in the skateboard superpark final at the ESPN X Games, completed recently at Home Depot Center in Carson.

Hassan, 33, compiled 91 points. He finished behind Rune Gliford of Denmark (108 points), Andy Macdonald of San Diego (101) and Tony Trujillo of San Francisco (93).

— From staff reports

UCI offers open practice

The UC Irvine women’s volleyball program will hold an open practice Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Crawford Court.

The Anteaters, picked to finish third in the Big West Conference preseason coaches poll, open the season Aug. 29 at the Aztec Invitational.

Guests will have the opportunity to learn new drills, discover more about collegiate athletics and meet the players and coaches. All those in attendance will receive free tickets to the Sept. 10 home opener against Oregon.

— From staff reports