Community College Athletes of the Week

Steve Smyth

Cypress, freshman

Baseball

Smyth, a left-handed pitcher, got Cypress started in the right direction Saturday. He pitched a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Chargers, seeded 15th, upset No. 2 Cuesta, 7-0. The Chargers won the second game, 8-3, to take the series, 2-1. Smyth, who has 24 strikeouts in his last two starts, is 9-2 and has 93 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings.

Baseball

Michael Vento

* Santa Ana, sophomore. He was four for six and reached base eight of 11 times as the Dons twice beat San Bernardino Valley to advance in the playoffs.

Nikia Owens

Fullerton, Sophomore

Softball

Owens, a shortstop from Walnut High, drove in seven of Fullerton’s 15 runs in three playoff victories. She had three runs batted, including the game-winner in the 13th, as the Hornets beat host Hancock, 4-3, in 13 innings in the regional final. She is hitting .341 and has 37 runs batted in, tying her for the top single-season mark at Fullerton.

Track & Field

Stephanie Heup

* Golden West, freshman. She won the pole vault at the Southern California finals by clearing 10 feet 6 inches.