Shawn Cronkhite

Like just about everybody, Shawn Cronkhite started riding at an early age. The machines changed, of course, as he grew older. He worked his way up, from the tricycle in the driveway to the Big Wheel on the sidewalk to two-wheelers on surface streets. It was similar to a climb through the credit-card pecking order. Regular plastic, gold card, platinum card. . . . His first three-wheeler has become a $3,000 titanium racing model. It was a gradual process.

Like just about everybody, Shawn Cronkhite started riding at an early age. The machines changed, of course, as he grew older. He worked his way up, from the tricycle in the driveway to the Big Wheel on the sidewalk to two-wheelers on surface streets. It was similar to a climb through the credit-card pecking order. Regular plastic, gold card, platinum card. . . . His first three-wheeler has become a $3,000 titanium racing model. It was a gradual process.

Three area cyclists, all riding for the Miller Lite Cycling Team, finished among the top 25 at the prestigious 89er Stage Race in Norman, Okla., last weekend. Shawn Cronkhite of Chatsworth placed fifth, Thurlow Rogers of Van Nuys was sixth and John Wordin of West Hills was 22nd. Winners were determined by individual elapsed time over the three-day event.

John Wordin of West Hills finished 16th and Shawn Cronkhite of Chatsworth was 19th in the 32-kilometer first leg of the Mike Nields Memorial Stage Race on Thursday in Fort Collins, Colo. Wordin and Cronkhite, who ride for the Miller Lite Cycling Team, will compete in the second stage today, an 82-mile road race. The event is part of the National Cup series.

Birmingham High will host a series of all-comers meets starting at 6 p.m. tonight. The meets, which are sponsored by the Southern California Assn. of USA Track & Field and the Birmingham High Dad's Club, are also scheduled for July 7, 14 and 21, and could go beyond that if there is enough interest. The meet will begin at 6 o'clock with events for youth division (junior high and younger) competitors, followed by the novice (high school) and open (collegiate and older) events at 7 p.m.

Danny Fercho and Kevin Winthrow each scored four goals for the West, but a goal by Brian Parath with 10 seconds to play gave the South a 17-16 victory in team handball Friday at the Convention Center. Fercho, a 23-year-old winger from Camarillo, gave the West a 1-0 lead 2 minutes 35 seconds into the game. He scored later to tie the match, 3-3, and his third goal of the first half stopped a streak of three consecutive South goals, pulling the West within 6-4.

Three area cyclists are within striking range of first place after the opening stage of the 89er Stage Race in Norman, Okla. Shawn Cronkhite of Chatsworth placed fifth among 162 national-class riders in the 25-kilometer stage race Friday, the first of the three-day competition. Thurlow Rogers of Van Nuys is in sixth and John Wordin of West Hills is 20th. All ride the the Miller Lite Cycling team. The second stage, to be conducted today, is a 90-mile road race.

Suddenly, Jeff Tagliaferri has become a very popular ballplayer. After waiting impatiently all season for a college scholarship offer, Tagliaferri last week was offered partial scholarships to Cal State Long Beach and Wyoming. "On the same day," he said. Tagliaferri, an All-City Section first baseman from Kennedy, said he plans to sign a letter of intent with Long Beach. Tagliaferri batted .456 with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 34 runs batted in for the Golden Cougars.

As she touched the wall to win the first U.S. Olympic Festival swimming gold medal, Sarah Nichols' emotions were so powerful that she couldn't handle them all at once. "It all hits you at the same time, the people screaming, the camera man zoning in on your face," Nichols said of her victory Saturday night in the 800-meter freestyle at the Palo Alto Natatorium. Nichols, 15, of Camarillo, finished in 8 minutes 48.38 seconds, a personal best by 10 seconds.

Wilfred Yago of Ventura won top honors over the weekend in the first handicap flight of the Ventura City Men's Golf Championship at Buenaventura and Olivas Park golf courses. Yago finished the 36-hole event with a net 134 to edge Norman Ray of Canoga Park by four shots. Ron Tunik of Newbury Park won the second flight with a net 130, beating Greg Kountz of Ventura by three strokes. John Clay of Ventura won the third flight with a net 130.