Another honor for Anteaters’ Bibona

Danny Bibona was voted to the CollegeBaseballInsider.com All-America first team.

Bibona, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2009 Major League Draft, was named the Big West Pitcher of the Year after leading UC Irvine with a 12-1 record, including going undefeated in conference games at 7-0. Bibona struck out 108 batters in 106 innings pitched, holding opposing teams to a .209 batting average. The lefty pitched his first career complete-game against UC Davis, an effort that gave the Anteaters their first Big West Conference title and concluded the season as the league leader in ERA at 2.63.

Bibona’s .932 winning percentage tied for second in the UCI single-season records and he was ranked fifth nationally in victories and 20th in ERA. The lefty allowed 6.62 hits per nine innings to sit 15th in the country.

The All-America honor was the fourth for Bibona for the season.

UCI SAILING TO RESTRUCTURE

Former members of the UC Irvine sailing team met with head coach Mike Pinckney Wednesday to discuss future plans for the nationally ranked sailing squad. The group decided to pursue options within the Department of Campus Recreation and drop the program to a Club Sport instead of trying to rejoin the UCI Athletic Department.

Andy Beeckman (Class of 1997), Danielle Richards (’09) and Head Coach Pinckney evaluated options from the UCI Athletic Department and Campus Recreation Department and felt that separating from athletics would be better in the long run although the initial restrictions would be difficult.

To make a smooth transition, a five-member Alumni Advisory Committee has been created to oversee operations and fundraising/financials for the team. The team still has its fleet of eight CFJ’s, practice sails — usable, but needing replacement — and Suburban for towing and trailers.

They will need to fundraise approximately $50,000 a year to compensate for the lost athletic department operation funding/coach salary and are pursuing options to accomplish that.

Alumni, friends, business and local community members have been asked to assist in any way possible from direct monetary donations, mileage donations for airfare, housing, gas cards, and gifts-in-kind (regatta housing, coaching, legal/financial services). Sponsorship opportunities have been made available.

For information, contact anteatersailingteam@gmail.com.

The UCI Varsity Sailing Team, was founded in 1965 as a charter sport on the new campus. The team is a member of the Intercollegiate Sailing Assn. of North America and the Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference. UCI Sailing has seven national championships, 51 ICSA All-Americans, and 22 conference titles, the most successful team on the UCI campus.

OC FAIR ENDS WITH 5K

Runners helped open the Orange County Fair and now they’ll be a big part of the closing festivities Sunday.

The OC Fair Closing Celebration 5K takes place at 9 a.m., prior to the final day opening.

Runners can participate in the 5K for $35 and receive a medal, cotton T-shirt and free admission to the OC Super Fair for the day.

Runners will experience the fair atmosphere while competing. They’ll run past the Ferris wheel, other rides, along funnel cake stands, elephants and running fans. The fair opens to the public at 10 a.m.

Race day registration will be available.

For more information or online registration, visit: OCSuperFair5K.com.

— From staff reports