UCSC’s Dorado, Bell nominated for NCAA award

Eddie Olson wins Unbridled Tour event

Recent UC Santa Cruz graduates Jordynn Dorado and Peyton Bell were nominated by the school for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Dorado, a track and field standout, posted school records in the shot put (42 feet, 6 inches), discus (135-6) and hammer (1410). She graduated from UCSC as a double major in feminist studies and environmental studies. A two-time all-region thrower, Dorado is pursuing a career in environmental studies and will attend graduate school at San Jose State University in the fall.

Bell, a captain on the soccer team, graduated in three years with a degree in economics. She was a first-team West Region Scholar-Athlete and first-team All-American Collegiate Athletic Association selection.

The NCAA Woman of the Year award, established in 1991, recognizes graduating athletes who distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

Baseball

SUMMER LEAGUE >> Santa Cruz High alumnus Nathaniel Brezner-Mendoza will compete this summer in the Wild Wild West League, based out of Portland, Oregon.

Brezner-Mendoza will pitch for the West Linn Knights in the four-team collegiate league, which is slated to begin action July 11. West Linn faces the Portland Gherkins in its opener July 12 at North Marion High in Aurora, Oregon.

The Portland Pickles and Gresham GreyWolves round out the league, which features mostly Oregon-area players. Brezner-Mendoza, a 6-foot-2 senior out of Clark College, pitched for University of Portland last season. He threw three shutout innings for the Pilots (12-4), who had their season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wild Wild West League games will be capped at 200 fans per contest.

Golf

OLSON WINS UNBRIDLED TOUR EVENT >> Aptos’ Eddie Olson, a former UNLV standout, made a tap-in birdie on No. 18 for 60 to break the Fleming Island record and win the Unbridled Tour’s Fleming Island Golf Club title on June 11.

Olson finished with a 22-under 191 total on the Jacksonville, Florida, course. He beat runner-up Garrett May by two shots and second-round leader Nick Voke by four shots to earn an $8,650 payday.

“I actually figured something out with my swing on the range before the second round,” Olson told bdglobalsports.com. “I knew coming in today I’d have to shoot in the low 60s to have a chance, so I just went out trying to record as many birdies as I could.”

Notable finishers include Chase Koepka, Brooks Koepka’s younger brother, who tied for fifth at 15-under and Norman Xiong, the 2018 NCAA Division I Player of the Year, finished at 7-under.

HOLES-IN-ONE >> Pasatiempo Golf Club had four players record aces last month:

Scotts Valley’s Nick Difu aced the 174-yard eighth hole on June 23 with a hybrid. It was his second career ace.

Santa Cruz’s Craig Peterson earned his first career ace by draining his tee shot on the 142-yard 18th hole with a 7-iron on June 19.

Ben Lomond’s Mike Scarborough aced the 158-yard eighth hole with a 3-hybrid on June 10. It was his fifth career ace.

Aptos’ Bruce Chorba aced the 175-yard eighth hole with a 6-iron on June 4. It was his sixth career ace.