Leyland collects honor

Jordan Leyland, who will be a junior for the UC Irvine baseball team in 2011, was named playoff MVP after helping the Cotuit Kettleers win the championship of the Cape Cod summer league with a 6-0 victory over Yarmouth-Dennis on Friday.

Leyland batted .426 (12 for 26 in seven playoff games ) with one home run and six runs batted in for the winners, who claimed their first Cape Cod League title since 1999. He scored seven runs in the playoffs.

The 6-foot-5 first baseman, who batted cleanup for the West All-Stars on July 28 at Fenway Park, was shifted to the leadoff spot for the Kettleers in the playoffs.

Cotuit swept best-of-three series against Falmouth and Wareham before winning two of three against Yarmouth-Dennis.

Leyland hit .264 in 125 at-bats over 37 games for the Kettleers. He finished with two home runs, six doubles, 14 RBIs and stole seven bases in eight attempts. He also scored 17 runs.

For the Anteaters, Leyland finished an injury-plagued season by earning all-regional honors at the NCAA Los Angeles Regional at UCLA. He hit .301 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 29 games. He also played outfield and was utilized at designated hitter for the Anteaters.

— From staff reports

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Vanguard adds transfer

Ben Hayes, who originally singed to play men’s basketball at UC Irvine, has transferred to Vanguard University, Lions Coach Rhett Soliday said.

Hayes, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Mission Viejo High, averaged 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game last season for the Diablos, who finished 24-5, won the South Coast League title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I-A playoffs.

“He’s a big, rangy wing who can really shoot it,” said Soliday, who was an assistant on the UCI staff that recruited Hayes.

When Hayes elected not to attend UCI, he chose Vanguard over Concordia, Soliday said.

“No matter how good a freshman is, there is always an adjustment period [in college],” Soliday said. “But Ben is a smart player and a good competitor. I anticipate him making the adjustment quickly.”

Hayes made 33 three-point field goals as a senior, when he shot 35% from beyond the arc.

He averaged 18.6 points as a junior at Mission Viejo.

— Barry Faulkner

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Former ‘Eater wins

UC Irvine product Ty Loomis and partner Casey Patterson won their third tournament Sunday on the Corona Light Wide Open beach volleyball tour.

Loomis and Patterson defeated Brazilians Fred Souza and Pedro Brazao, 15-9, at Carter Park in Breckenridge, Colo.

Loomis and Patterson have won more titles than anyone on the tour this season. They posted wins previously in Santa Cruz and Chicago.

— From staff reports