10:19 p.m. AKST, November 30, 2012

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UCI baseball announces signees

Heralded right-handed pitcher Michael Martin tops a list of five high school seniors who have signed to continue their baseball careers at UC Irvine, the school announced Friday.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Martin identified as the No. 38 prospect in the nation in 2010 by Perfect Game who was recently named Collegiate Baseball All-American, helped Cathedral Catholic of San Diego win section Division III titles the last two seasons.

Martin was 7-2 with one save and an 0.90 earned-run average as a junior and 7-0 with one save and a 1.17 ERA as a sophomore. In those two seasons, he struck out 136 in 211 2/3 innings, fashioned a combined 1.04 ERA and allowed 87 combined hits.

Martin also hit a team-leading .374 with 18 runs batted in 107 at-bats in 2012, after hitting .300 in 40 at-bats as a sophomore.

The class also includes Alex Guenette, a catcher out of La Jolla Country Day in San Diego County, Chris Vargas, a pitcher and shortstop out of Villa Park High, John Brontsema, a shortstop out of Santa Barbara High, and Jordan Scheftz, a pitcher out of University High.

Guenette hit a combined .405 in 190 combined at-bats the last two seasons and in three varsity campaigns has produced 13 home runs, 76 RBIs, 21 doubles and 19 stolen bases in 21 attempts.

Vargas, projected as a right-handed pitcher, was 5-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 65 2/3 combined innings the last two seasons. He struck out 63, allowed 60 hits and walked 37 during that span.

Vargas, entering his fourth season, hit a combined .326 with one home run, 42 RBIs and 14 stolen bases as a shortstop and third baseman for the Spartans.

Scheftz, a 6-3 right-hander, was Pacific Coast League Co-MVP as a junior, and has twice been named All-CIF Southern Section.

Brontsema, the son of former UC Santa Barbara Coach Bob Brontsema, hit .379 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 58 at-bats as a junior. He also had five doubles and three triples and was six for six in stolen-base attempts.

"These five players are advanced in theri skills and will be outstanding college players," UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said. "This group will address our most immediate needs and we are confident that they each will play a pivital role as freshmen."

— From staff reports

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Sarris sets PR

Newport Harbor High graduate Tori Sarris finished 65th in the NCAA Division III West Regional Cross Country Championships, completing the 6,000-meter course in 23 minutes 19.14 seconds.

The University of Puget Sound sophomore set a personal best in the race, which took place Nov. 10 in Independence, Ore. It stands at 18th on the all-time list for the Loggers.

— From staff reports