Lasers’ Todd Picks Fairleigh Dickinson

Daryl Todd, the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball player of the year, has signed with Fairleigh Dickinson, Irvine Valley Coach Jerry Hernandez said Monday.

Todd, a 6-foot-4 forward from Compton Dominguez High, averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds despite playing much of the year with injuries to each thumb.

Irvine Valley won the Orange Empire Conference and reached the second round of the playoffs.

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Hands down: The Orange Empire Conference baseball coaches meet tonight to decide on the all-conference teams as well as player of the year, which should go to Cypress catcher Craig Kuzmic.

In 24 conference games, Kuzmic hit .449 with 14 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and drove in 42 runs. His RBI total was nine more than any other player. He hit .410 with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs on the season.

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Scratched: Golden West’s Kim Watts qualified for three events--the 400 hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump--for the upcoming Southern California finals. But she has decided to withdraw from each to concentrate on the heptathlon at the state meet May 16-17 in Fresno.

Watts, from Huntington Beach High, was fourth at the Southern California heptathlon competition.

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Moving on: Orange Coast baseball players Travis Clutter, Jason Liuzzi and Jamie Surdock have committed to Hawaii Pacific, Coach John Altobelli announced Monday.

Clutter, a third baseman, hit .345 with 24 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. Liuzzi, a left-handed pitcher, was 2-3, and Surdock, a right-hander, was 3-5.