Sports Shorts

HOOP SIGNINGS . . . Taking it to the next level are Stanford seniors Naomi Mulitauaopele, Heather Owen and Vanessa Nygaard, all of whom are headed into the professional ranks next season. There will, however, be a parting of the ways. Mulitauaopele and Owen are headed for the American Basketball League while Nygaard has signed with the rival Women's National Basketball Association. Mulitauaopele and Owen accepted invitations this week to the ABL's player combine next week in San Francisco. Mulitauaopele, who had one year of basketball eligibility remaining at Stanford after redshirting this past season due to a knee injury, will bypass that extra year in order to pursue a pro career. Nygaard, who will join former teammate Olympia Scott in the WNBA, will sit out the 1998 season while rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. She will be eligible for the upcoming draft.

DIAMOND NOTES . . . Stanford sophomore outfielder John Gall of Portola Valley has been added to the USA Baseball National Team roster, joining Cardinal teammate, pitcher Justin Wayne. Gall is one of 40 invitees to the team's summer training camp. There, the players will be evaluated and the roster trimmed to 22 in preparation for the International Baseball Association's World Championships in Italy.

GYMNASTICS CHAMP . . . Palo Alto's Nicole Przybyla may be only 10 years of age, but she's quite advanced in the sport of gymnastics. The Walter Hays School student, who competes for Airborne Gym in Santa Clara, captured three individual events and all-around honors at the Cal State Level 7 Gymnastics Championships recently at Cal State Sacramento. Przybyla won the bars, beam and floor exercise on her way to capturing all-around honors.

SOCCER NEWS . . . Palo Alto AYSO is preparing for the fall season. Returning players will receive registration in the mail, but those new to Palo Alto or thinking of joining must register in person at the Cubberley Community Center. Signup dates are April 27 (Room A-3) from 7-9 p.m. or May 16 (Room H-6) from 2-4 p.m. Positions on teams are guaranteed until May 31. After that, the registration fee is higher and players will be put into a pool, to be selected randomly. There are no tryouts and no cuts. Beginners are welcome. Everyone plays at least a half game each time. Teams will be formed in August . . . The Portola Valley Flash, an Under-16 girls Class I CYSA team, is looking for one or two dedicated players who wish to have a year-round soccer experience. The team is filling the final positions this spring for the fall season. Those interested in trying out must have birth dates after 8-1-81 and should contact Gary Ireland at World Soccer (327-9153) or manager John Wachtel (854-4920) to arrange a tryout time.

FINAL FOUR TICKETS . . . Ticket applications for the 1999 NCAA Women's Division I Final Four in San Jose are available now through May 1. Individuals wishing to apply for tickets must use an official application in its original form. To request an application: call (913) 831-1234 or write to NCAA Women's Final Four, P.O. Box 410619, Kansas City, Mo., 64141-0619. Approximately 9,000 tickets will be allocated to the general public for the tournament, which is being hosted by Stanford in cooperation with the San Jose Sports Authority. Each ticket application may request a maximum of four tickets per entry. Applications must be received (not postmarked) no later than midnight May 15. The Final Four will be at the San Jose Arena from March 26-28, 1999.

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