Briefs: Dodgers victors

The OC Dodgers Elite 8-and-under travel team won the Cecil Fielder Elite World Series championship recently in Yuma, Ariz.

The OC Dodgers, which featured Costa Mesa resident Nick Ochoa and Irvine residents Mason Ressler and Cade O’Hara, went 8-0 at the four-day tournament. They defeated the Tijuana Stars, Atlanta Angels and Oakley Stingrays to make the final game of the 16-team, four-day tournament.

Ochoa hit a grand slam to center in Game 1, and he also helped the OC Dodgers come from behind to defeat the top SoCal Outlaw team to make the final game.

The team was coached by Mike Torres, Bryant O’Hara, Tony Silva, Gil Rodriguez, Eric Welch, Steve Moeller and “Pops” Rodriguez.

— From staff reports

ITA event on tap

Entries remain open for the 25th annual Newport Beach Intercollegiate Tennis Assn. tournament, set for The Tennis Club Newport Beach over the July 4 weekend.

Tournament Director A.G. Longoria, the Sage Hill School boys’ and girls’ tennis coach, said entries close Wednesday at midnight. He anticipates full 64-player draws in men’s and women’s singles, as well as 32-player draws in doubles.

Current collegiate players can play against top junior players at summer ITA tournaments. Among the players already entered this year are Corona del Mar High grad Lynda Xepoleas (bound for Purdue) and former CdM standout Melissa Matsuoka (now at Dartmouth).

Sage Hill incoming senior Robbe Simon, who helped lead the Lightning to the CIF Southern Section Division III title this spring, is already entered on the men’s side.

Play begins July 2 and continues through the semifinals and finals on July 4.

The entry fee is $60 and players can enter at https://www.itatennis.com.

— From staff reports

UCI receives award

UC Irvine is one of 41 colleges and universities to receive the inaugural U.S. Olympic Achievement Award.

The award recognizes the colleges and universities whose student-athletes and coaches have won Olympic medals.

UCI men’s volleyball coach John Speraw was an assistant coach for the U.S. men’s volleyball team that won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Tim Hutten was a member of the U.S. men’s water polo silver medalists in 2008.

— From staff reports