SOFTBALL

Mermaids capture national

slow-pitch championship

The Oxnard Mermaid Girls Softball League Palomino 18-and-under all-stars were as hot as the weather in Slidell, La.

The girls slugged their way to the tournament championship by winning all nine games in the PONY National Slow-Pitch Tournament. The team played nine games over eight days.

The Mermaid team defeated the Silver Bullets of Lake Charles, La., 9-5, for the championship.

It was the league's third national championship since winning the title in 2005 and 2002.

The players are Amanda Zuniga, Jessica Lopez, Nydia Fabian, Reyna Garcia, Marisol Montanez, Robin Puga, Marissa Pech, Julie Puga, Raquel Gonzales, Crystal Montanez, Brandi Pech, Amber Bruno, Ashley Martinez and Denise Pech.

Tony Mendoza, Anthony Mendez and Sophia Saenz are the coaches.

Robin Puga hit five homers. Garcia hit four homers. Gonzales and Fabian hit two homers.

The girls had to raise $15,000 for the trip and they are still seeking donations. To make a donation, contact tournament director Tony Mendoza at 236-1470.

The Mermaids will be honored this evening by the Oxnard City Council.

The Mermaids have been serving Oxnard and Port Hueneme since 1973, offering recreation softball to girls ages 4-17. The league is family oriented and promotes good sportsmanship, opportunity and positive attitude, regardless of skill. Registration for the 2008 season will begin in November.

Information: Veronica Puga at 890-8135 or Mariana Mendoza at 377-6492 or www.mermaidsoftball.org.

BASEBALL

OCEAN VIEW ADVANCES TO WORLD SERIES

Highlights: Ocean View — The 6-and-under Shetland team was trailing Lancaster 5-2 until Phillip Davila hit a bases-loaded double to tie the game and Juan Hernandez had the winning hit in extra innings. Ocean View will play in the World Series beginning Thursday and running through Monday at the Field of Dreams complex in Chino Hills. The players are Davila, Hernandez, Nathan Rangel, Arthur Esquivel, Jacob Vallejo, Anthony Chavez, Jacob Basua, Sergio Gutierrez, Oscar Magana, Gabriel Landeros and Angel Vega. Mike Basua is the manager. Sergio Gutierrez, Danny Hernandez and Robert Rangel are the coaches.

SIMI VALLEY LEAGUE NAMES NEW LINEUP

Simi Valley Little League recently welcomed new president Tom Tenney along with a new board of directors for the 2007-2008 season. The new board of directors is a mix of veteran board members and newly elected board members. Tenney is excited about his role. "I am extremely delighted to be involved in the Simi Valley Little League. I believe we will have a successful season filled with fun," said Tenney. Dan Gammond is the T-ball player director and he said the goal is to continue with the league's tradition of teaching our players baseball skills, sportsmanship, teamwork, and respect in a fun filled environment. Simi Valley Little League has divisions available for all youths to play from 5 to 18 years of age. The Challenger Division enables boys and girls with special needs to enjoy the baseball experience. The other divisions are Junior/Senior (13-16), Farm/Minor/Major divisions (ages 7-12) and T-ball/coach pitch (ages 5-7). Registration for Fall Ball will be held at Knolls Park (Majors field),  1300 S. Katherine Road, Simi Valley, on Aug. 11 and 18 from 8 a.m. to noon.

MARTIAL ARTS

SIMI VALLEY STUDIO WINS MEDALS

The American Martial Arts Academy of Simi Valley competed in the July 12-15 United States Taekwondo Senior/Junior Olympics in San Jose. The competition featured 3,000 of the best athletes from the nation. Ten Simi Valley studio athletes competed and they earned a gold, three silver and two bronze medals in both sparring and forms. Kathryn Bell, 13, was first in sparring in the black belt elite division. Kylie Rice,8, red belt, and Derrick Kwak Jr., 7, blue belt, were silver medal winners in forms. Kristin Hijazin, 11, red belt, won a silver in sparring. Nadia Helo, 12, red belt, was a bronze medalist in sparring along with Alberto Rosales Jr., 8, a blue belt. Helo was fourth in forms. Others participating in the Junior Olympics included Colton Rogers, 9, red belt; Amanda Hijazin, 10, red belt; and Devon Rice, 12 black belt. The Junior/Senior Olympics is the steppingstone to the Olympic team, said master Derrick Kwak of Simi Valley. "For those dedicated students who want to aspire to be an Olympian, we want to facilitate those dreams," said Kwak. Information: www.amaa-simivalley.com or 527-5508.

SWIMMING

FOUR CONEJO SIMI ATHLETES NAMED ALL-STARS

Four CSA swimmers have been appointed to the Southern California Swimming all-star team that will face Canada and Mexico in the new North American Challenge Cup competition. David Sommers (12), Yu-Bin Kim (12), Nolan Koon (17) and Shannyn Hultin (14) were chosen to participate in the new summer-ending meet which will be held at USC's McDonald's Swim Stadium, Aug. 10-12. David and Yu-Bin were two of 16 11-12 boys who will comprise two teams that face off against Canada at the meet. Nolan is one of 13 17-18 boys and Shannyn one of nine 13-14 girls, whose groups will compete against both teams from Mexico and Canada in the three-day trials/finals contest. To be selected for the Challenge Cup, all four swimmers had to meet rigorous time standards.

WATER POLO

TITANS 15, MALIBU 5

Ventura County League

Highlights: Titans — Brendan Kirk, Courtney Walters and Nicholas Ratekin each had three goals in the 14-and-under Division I game. Austin Navarro and Joe Yamamoto each scored two goals. Jessie Craig added a goal. Walters had five steals. Yamamoto had four steals. Kirk and Walters had four assists. Craig and Yamamoto had steals. Goalies Nicholas Vallejo and Ratekin each had a save.

FOOTBALL

RHINOS REGISTRATION

The Port Hueneme Rhinos will hold registration on Wednesday, Friday and Monday at 5 p.m. at Hueneme High. Information: 483-8988. Other youth football league teams are starting conditioning and summer practice sessions for the season-opening games in September. Area youth teams in the Pacific Football and Gold Coast leagues and have started conditioning drills.