COC TRACK STAR'S IMPROVEMENT HAS MAJOR COLLEGES INTERESTED.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson

The strongest young man in the Santa Clarita Valley? Look no further than Ryan Davis, a record-setting, 21-year-old track and field standout at College of the Canyons who's the No. 1 shot-putter and No. 3 discus thrower among California junior college athletes.

Davis, a sophomore who graduated from Saugus High three years before spending a red-shirt football season at L.A. Valley College, recently set school records in both events, including a throw of 54 feet, 9 1/2 inches - more than 3 1/2 feet better than his personal-best from last season.

``I suppose everything is going great right now, but I really feel like I'm ready to go another 3 or 4 feet,'' Davis said.

After finishing fourth in the shot put during last year's state championships, Davis dedicated himself to improvement. He's gained 35 pounds - up to 270 - without increasing the size of his waist, thanks to days filled with workouts and hearty high-protein meals.

``I eat a lot of steak, but actually my favorite place to eat is probably Subway. I love the club sandwiches and the Veggie Delight - but I never eat the cookies,'' Davis said.

Davis is on the verge of signing a college scholarship, and Arizona, UC Riverside and Northern Arizona are among those interested. In the meantime, odds are no one will beat him at the JC level.

``Ryan is just having a great year,'' coach Rick Kaufman said. ``He was good last year, too, but Ryan is just so much bigger and stronger this season. He's worked pretty hard.''

--Santa Clarita Christian High's softball team got off to a rough start.

Moments before the first pitch in the season opener against Rosamond last week, second baseman Ellie Brackett broke her nose after getting hit in the face with a softball during warmups. Coach Darcy Scott had to juggle several players to fill the gap, then Ashley Gold was ejected by the umpire in the third inning after her second hit of the game because she threw her bat during both at-bats. The team eventually lost 11-1.

But Santa Clarita Christian bounced back with a 16-11 victory Thursday over perennial power Faith Baptist of Canoga Park - believed to be the first softball victory over Faith Baptist in Santa Clarita Christian history, according to Scott.

``I don't remember ever beating them. For sure, it's been at least a few years,'' Scott said.

--Saugus High baseball standout Travis Babin, expected to miss at least the first month of the season while recovering from major knee surgery, has come back much sooner. He's already played five different positions over the first three games of the season, even though he isn't at full speed.

``He's still limping a little bit, but Travis is just a tremendous competitor,'' first-year coach George Lopata said. ``He just wants to be out there with his teammates so badly.''

Babin, also a starting quarterback for the football team, tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the first week of the football season. He was hoping the injury would heal naturally but eventually underwent surgery after the playoffs.

--Tryouts for club hockey teams at various levels continue through Monday at Ice Station at Valencia, and the season begins March 21. Information: sportability.com/spx/Leagues/Schedule.asp?LgID=8046.

--Tournament Players Club at Valencia hosts a Tsunami relief golf tournament at 10 a.m. March 21, with all proceeds going to the U.S. Golf Tsunami Relief Fund.

``We're pleased to be a part of such a giving organization and provide support in relief of this great human tragedy,'' general manager Perry Dickey said.

For information, call the marketing department: [phone] or Pam Fleetwood at Fleetwood Communications: [phone] or pr(at)fleetwoodcom.net.

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College of the Canyons track and field standout Ryan Davis holds school records in the shot put and discus.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News