COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS: COC GOALIE WILL MOVE ON TO RENO GREGG'S PLAY SPARKED COUGARS TO TWO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - College of the Canyons goalie Jessica Gregg, who helped lead the women's soccer team to back-to-back Western State Conference titles, has accepted an athletic scholarship from University of Nevada.

``I'm excited that I get to keep playing and get a good education,'' she said.

Gregg, who graduated from Barstow High, said that attending COC was a good move for her. She said advisors and teachers at COC have helped her and that playing for the Cougars gave her exposure she wouldn't have received in Barstow.

``Coming out and making a statement like we did the last two years has made people realize that maybe there's some talent out here,'' said Gregg of the Cougars' soccer program, which just completed its third season last fall.

Gregg hopes to parlay her Division I play in Reno into a professional soccer career.

``If that's what the future has in store for me,'' she said, ``that would be great.''

--Indoor softball: Because of the recent rains, the COC field is saturated, and the Cougars, who have played one game since Feb. 20, have been practicing indoors.

Using a canvas-covered rubber ball specifically designed for indoor use, the Cougars have had throwing drills and regular infield and outfield practices. Or as regular as infield and outfield practice can be on a hardwood basketball court.

``The easiest thing to do would be to just cancel practices,'' COC coach Ray Whitten said. ``Even if you don't do anything else, you have to throw and keep the muscles and tendons in their arms used to throwing.''

The players have taken batting practice in the gym using a whiffle ball, and pitchers have been throwing a real softball in a semienclosed area outside the gym.

--Ugly victory: The softball team won the only game it played at the rain-shortened Bakersfield Tournament of Champions Friday night, 3-2 over Antelope Valley, despite being limited to just one hit.

With the Cougars (4-4) trailing 2-0 in the top of the sixth, the last inning in a game shortened by a 90-minute time limit, Liz Harkins had a bloop single to left field and COC took advantage of two walks and a two-base throwing error.

Casey Walper's RBI grounder scored Rian Standley with what proved to be the game-winning run.

--Flooded fairways: The golf team was supposed to open WSC play Feb. 12. Three weeks and a relentless series of storms later, the Cougars and their conference opponents are once again looking to open the season - Monday.

The most recent rain out was Monday's match at the Valencia Country Club.

The rain outs are unprecedented, according to coach Gary Peterson, who said he recalls one rain out (1998) in his 16 years at COC.

The Cougars have played just 27 holes since the season began on Feb. 1.

``The kids are starting to get frustrated,'' Peterson said. ``It's kind of a challenge, but we'll have to work with it.''

The Cougars were dealt an additional blow when Monday's fund raiser for the golf team, which was also scheduled for the Valencia Country Club, was rained out.

Peterson hopes the fund raiser, which was expected to raise $7,000 for the golf team, can be rescheduled for later this month. He's also considering holding the event at Robinson Ranch Golf Course.

Peterson said Valencia is hosting a Senior PGA Tournament next week and that Robinson Ranch was open on Monday.

``It's a premier golf course,'' Peterson said of Valencia. ``We're lucky to be able to play it. This is something we just have to deal with.''

The golf team was counting on the fund raiser to subsidize a trip to Scottsdale, Ariz., to compete in a prestigious national community college invitational tournament at the end of April. The Cougars also need the funds to attend the Monterey Peninsula College tournament (April 11-12). Without the fund raiser, the Cougars will not be able to compete in either event, Peterson said.