DAILY UPDATE.

COLLEGES

Antelope Valley College 

Chris Covert, an 800-meter runner for the track team, signed a letter of intent with Cal State Fullerton and will compete in the fall. The Paraclete High of Lancaster graduate also will run cross country.

As a freshman, Covert earned Foothill Conference honors as a member of AVC's 4x400 relay and his cross country time of 21:12 was the fourth-best mark on the team this season.

- Sean Ceglinsky

HIGH SCHOOLS

Antelope Valley 

Distance runner Jose Melena is close to the school records in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters. Melena's mile time of 4:36 is half a second behind the school record and his time in the two-mile of 9:54 is four seconds short. Melena is part of a distance revival at Antelope Valley behind first-year coach Rick Hampton that is a major reason for the track program's success, improving to 3-2 in dual meets after going winless last season.

- Matthew Kredell

Highland

It was a family affair for the Rawson sisters Wednesday as Melissa, Natalie and Nichole Rawson, all former varsity softball stars, played in Colgate University's doubleheader sweep of Marist College Wednesday afternoon. Melissa and Natalie, both of whom play for Colgate, combined for three RBI in the second game. In that contest, Natalie also belted her team-high 13th home run of the season.

Nichole, who pitches for Marist, struck out six and allowed five hits in seven innings in the first game.

- Nevin Barich

Lancaster

The Eagles baseball team is far from last season's record-setting home run output, but Lancaster is getting plenty of extra-base hits. The Eagles had 82 extra-base hits through 21 games. That total included seven doubles in Wednesday's victory over Highland. Eric Ryan entered Friday's game with a team-high four triples and Jason Anderson led the team with 12 doubles. Justin Zarley's six home runs - not even half of the total of last year's leader- were a team-high.

- Heather Gripp

Littlerock

Senior Jake Read shot a season-best seven-over 79 for the Littlerock boys' golf team in the Golden League finale Thursday at Antelope Valley Country Club in Palmdale.

No Littlerock golfers qualified for the postseason and the team finished in third place behind Highland and Quartz Hill.

David Lajano is among a group of returning juniors expected to make an impact next season, according to coach Steve Mann.

- Gerry Gittelson

Palmdale

Center fielder Greg Warren has a Golden League leading nine stolen bases for the Falcons, who were tied atop the league at 10-2 with Quartz Hill entering Friday's game against the Rebels. Palmdale already beat Quartz Hill 10-0 on Wednesday.

- Matthew Kredell

Paraclete

Paraclete graduate Lauren McDonald has overcome some wildness to post solid numbers for the Antelope Valley College softball team.

Mcdonald was leading the 30-11 Marauders with a 16-7 overall pitching record. The transfer from Miami University of Ohio had a 3.23 earned run average but an abundance of walks (83 against 73 strikeouts) and 17 wild pitches.

McDonald won all five of her decisions in Foothill Conference play for a team that was 14-0 in conference. The Southern California Regionals begin today at Cypress College.

- Chris Cocoles

Quartz Hill

If The Master's College is going advance in the NAIA Region II baseball playoffs, junior Chad Spencer, a Quartz Hill graduate, will have to pitch at his best. He was on his game in his key outing against Golden State Athletic Conference rival Cal Baptist last Saturday.

Spencer, who transferred to The Master's from Antelope Valley College, did allow six earned runs on 16 hits and four walks against the Lancers.

But he was effective in minimizing any damage, lasting 8 2/3 innings to earn his fifth win of the season. Spencer's 79 innings thrown is second on the team.

- Chris Cocoles