Sports Briefs

Former Gahr High and Cerritos College infielder Greg Bergeron, playing third base for Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson, set an individual record and helped set a team record April 24 when he was hit by a pitch thrown by Cal State San Bernardino pitcher Chris Brown in the third inning of a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. baseball game.

Cal State Long Beach, which tried to eliminate its men's golf team two years ago, has allocated $13,000 in athletic department funds for the sport. Golf, men's tennis, and men's and women's swimming were targeted for elimination by former 49er Athletic Director Corey Johnson in the spring of 1990 as part of a university cost containment effort. But Coach Del Walker saved the golf program by raising more than $26,000 so the team could compete in 1991.

Three area schools have been honored by the CIF Southern Section for academic excellence in their athletic programs. Players from Whitney High (baseball, girls' swimming and boys' track and field), Wilson (golf and gymnastics) and John Glenn (girls' tennis) had cumulative grade-point averages of 3.0 or better in college prep courses during the first semester of the 1991-92 school year. Their cumulative GPAs ranked first in each sport among Southern Section schools.

Dave O'Brien will remain as interim athletic director at Cal State Long Beach until at least January, university President Curtis L. McCray has announced. O'Brien, 36, was appointed to the position last September when Corey Johnson resigned to become athletic director at Colorado State. Previously, O'Brien was the president's administrative assistant for financial matters.

St. Joseph volleyball standout Jaimie Torromeo was honored as athlete of the year at the 11th Lakewood Hall of Fame award ceremony Monday night. Torromeo, an outside hitter, was earlier named the state's top girl prep volleyball player. She set three California kill records to help the Jesters reach the state title game, and she was chosen an All-American by USA Today and Volleyball Monthly magazine. Torromeo, a senior, will attend Pepperdine in the fall.

Cal State Long Beach Athletic Director Dave O'Brien was one of 10 representatives from two states who attended a meeting at Cal State Northridge last week to discuss formation of an NCAA Division 1-AA football conference. Cal State Long Beach discontinued its 1-A football program last year, but university President Curtis L. McCray said he is willing to review any plan to revive the program as long as it offers "cost containment."

Twenty former Cal State Long Beach football players have signed to play at other schools next season.

Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America rank Cal State Long Beach among the top 10 collegiate baseball teams, but the two publications disagree on how good the 49ers will be. Collegiate Baseball ranked Long Beach No. 6 and Baseball America rated the 49ers fifth. Cal State Long Beach was 45-22 last season. Tucson-based Collegiate Baseball ranked 1989 national champion and last year's runner-up Wichita State (66-13) No. 1. Baseball America, based in Durham, N.C., picked Miami (46-17).

Antoinnette White, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter from Cal State Long Beach, has been chosen Big West Conference women's volleyball player of the year, and 49er Coach Brian Gimmillaro has been selected conference coach of the year. Other 49ers selected to the first team were junior setter Sabrina Hernandez and sophomore middle blocker Danielle Scott. Second team honors went to junior middle blocker Alicia Mills.

The committee looking into the future of the football program at Cal State Long Beach has postponed making its recommendation public until at least Nov. 22. The report had been expected to be released Friday. Dave O'Brien, interim director of athletics, said the extra time is needed for boosters to complete the details of a fund-raising proposal to raise between $600,000 and $700,000 yearly.