Briefs: Barkley named MVP

USC junior quarterback Matt Barkley, a Newport Beach resident who set USC season records for touchdown passes and completion percentage, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player at the annual awards banquet Monday.

Barkley, a three-year starter, also set four USC game records this past season: completions (35 vs. UCLA), pass yardage (468 vs. Arizona), touchdown passes (six vs. Colorado and UCLA) and total offense (470 vs. Arizona).

Barkley was also named to the All-Pac 12 second team. He finished with 3,258 passing yards, the fifth-best single-season total in USC annals. He completed 308 of 446 with 39 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Barkley has yet to announce if he will return for his senior season or make himself eligible for the NFL Draft.

— From staff reports

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Locals win title

Newport Harbor High products Andy Hayes and Zach Lucas were a part of an unprecedented fourth straight national championship for the USC men’s water polo team Sunday.

The Trojans beat rival UCLA, 7-4, to win the national title.

Chase Watson and Emery Molnar, freshmen out of Corona del Mar High, are also listed on the roster.

Hayes is a redshirt sophomore and Lucas is a redshirt freshman.

Lucas Reynolds, a CdM product, played for UCLA as a redshirt sophomore. Chris Robertson, a freshman out of CdM, is also on the Bruins’ roster.

— From staff reports

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Levin a key in win

Camille Levin, originally from Newport Coast, helped the Stanford women’s soccer team win its first NCAA title Sunday in Kennesaw, Ga.

Levin, who graduated from Tarbut V’Torah, delivered the assist on the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute for the Cardinal’s 1-0 win against Duke.

Levin, a senior defender, began the scoring sequence and stayed with it despite being tackled and stumbling, according to Stanford’s athletic website. She regained her balance and kept possession. She attempted a cross that was blocked and she fell. But she got up and continued her run.

This time, with two defenders approaching, she struck another cross, this time to Teresa Noyola, who scored the game-winner.

Levin was a key player for the Cardinal (25-0-1). She started all 26 games, contributing four goals and seven assists. She was known for her versatility.

“Cami has an unbelievable spirit about her,” Stanford Coach Paul Ratcliffe said after the national championship victory. “She’s a competitive, driven person that deserves success. I had a feeling that she would get her success in this final four.

“The way to describe her is winner. She is a winner. That’s why it’s been hard to not win a national championship with her on the team. It took until this year.”

Stanford made its third straight appearance in the national title game after losing the previous two, 1-0.

— From staff reports

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Lavery earns card

UC Irvine men’s golf alumnus Mike Lavery earned his Nationwide Tour card for 2012 after shooting a four-under 68 Monday in the last round of the PGA Tour Qualifying School’s final stage.

Lavery, who played the Stadium Course Monday, finished 54th overall with a six-round total of 428.

Lavery, who played at UCI from 1999-2003, won the 2003 Big West Conference individual title and was a three-time All-Big West honoree.

Two other Anteater alums, John Chin and Sean Shahi, earned conditional status on the Nationwide Tour.

Chin shot a one-over 73 Monday on the Nicklaus Tournament Course to finish 82nd at one-under 431, just one shot away from earning full-time status on the Nationwide Tour.

Shahi, who shot a 79 Monday on the Stadium Course, placed 159th at 460.

— From staff reports

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‘Eaters sign eight

Five pitchers, two outfielders and one middle infielder make up the eight-player 2012 recruiting class that has signed national letters of intent with UC Irvine baseball.

Tyler Brashears, a right-hander and senior at El Toro High, has earned All-American honors and was the Co-MVP of the South Coast League as a junior. In two varsity seasons, he is a combined 18-5 with four saves and has a 1.51 earned-run average in 154 2/3 innings. He has 145 strikeouts and 37 walks in two seasons and won 11 of 13 decisions as a junior.

“[Brashears] has dominated for two years with advanced command of two pitches and we’re confident that he will make an immediate impact at UCI,” UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said in a statement. “He will compete immediately to be a weekend starter and is the quality of pitcher who could anchor a great staff for four years.”

Josh Bornstein, a 6-5 right-hander and senior at El Segundo High, has a combined 2.39 ERA in two varsity seasons, spanning 102 1/3 innings. He is 12-6 during that time with 81 strikeouts, 53 walks and 87 hits allowed.

Gillespie said Bornstein is polished who is still expected to grow and develop.

Elliott Surrey, a left-hander and senior at Crescenta Valley High, was 6-1 with a 1.06 ERA as a junior. UCI pitching coach Jason Dietrich said Surrey, an All-CIF Southern Section honoree, has command of three pitches (fastball, curve and change).

Kevin Grendell, another lefty, is a senior at San Pasqual High. He was 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA in 36 innings as a junior, but has unlimited potential, according to Gillespie.

Andrew Potter, a right-hander and senior at Eastside High in Lancaster, is a power pitcher with tremendous upside, Dietrich said.

Potter struck out 135 in 108 2/3 innings in his first two varsity seasons, though he did issue 63 walks.

Tim Lopes, a senior at Edison High, has played two varsity seasons for the Chargers.

“[Lopes] is a difference-maker,” Gillespie said. “He is a top-of-the-lineup hitter who is complete and a tough out. We love his instincts.”

Taylor Dominique, a sophomore center fielder at Salt Lake Community College, possesses speed and power, UCI coaches said. He hit .385 with 25 extra-base hits and 24 stolen bases in 2011.

Jordan Morrison is a left-handed-hitting outfielder and senior at Arroyo Grande High. He hit .408 with 28 runs batted in and 42 hits in 28 games as a junior on his way to second-team All-CIF laurels.

— From staff reports