Stetson Doubtful for UC Irvine’s Opener

UC Irvine forward Adam Stetson probably will miss the Anteaters’ season opener against Pepperdine Tuesday because of a foot injury. Stetson, who has been bothered by a sore ligament in his left foot since the end of last season, was scratched from tonight’s exhibition game against the California All-Stars.

Stetson, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged 12 points to lead the Anteaters last season.

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Colleen Turnbull, a first-team selection on The Times Orange County team last season at San Clemente, has signed a letter of intent to play women’s basketball at UC Davis, according to her high school coach, Mary Mulligan.

Turnbull, a 5-foot-10 forward who averaged 14.9 points and nine rebounds, led the Tritons to the Southern Section Division I-A finals.

Other athletes who committed:

* Ashley Stachowski of Capistrano Valley has signed to play women’s water polo at UCLA. The Bruins won their third consecutive NCAA championship last season.

Stachowski, who practiced with the U.S. women’s national team last summer, was the South Coast League MVP and a first-team selection for The Times Orange County last season.

* Esperanza’s Bo Ashabraner signed to play baseball at Long Beach State, Aztec Coach Mike Curran said.

Ashabraner, a pitcher who also plays tight end, was named the Sunset League’s MVP last spring. He was 8-3 with a 2.33 earned-run average after starting the season a month late because of a knee injury.

* Basketball player Bianca Larson and softball player Kristina McCarty, both of Villa Park, will sign today to attend Long Beach State next fall, girls’ Athletic Director Sue Gardiner announced. Larson was a second-team All-Century League selection as a junior, and McCarty was an all-league first-team pick last year.

* Caitlin Haworth-Yasger, a catcher at El Dorado High, signed to play softball at Fresno State, according to her coach, Jill Matyuch.

* Chris Ferguson, a guard at Irvine, has signed to play basketball at the University of San Diego. Ferguson, a 6-2 senior, averaged more than 20 points as a junior.

* Cal State Fullerton announced the signing of five softball players, including infielder Dara Webb of Pacifica High.

Webb, a second-team All-Garden Grove League selection as a sophomore and junior, will be joined on the Titan team by Quartz Hill High’s Jodie Cox, a pitcher/outfielder who was The Times’ 1998 San Fernando Valley player of the year.

Also signing were infielder Amanda Hockett of Bakersfield Stockdale High, Amy LaRocque, an infielder/catcher from Fontana A.B. Miller, and pitcher Gina Oaks from Rancho Cucamonga.

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Esperanza’s Mike Curran has been named American Baseball Coaches Assn. high school coach of the year and regional coach of the year.

Curran, who guided Esperanza to a second consecutive Sunset League championship last season and an appearance in the Southern Section Division I baseball final at Dodger Stadium, will be honored Jan. 3 in Atlanta at the ABCA banquet.

Curran, who has coached at Esperanza since 1980, has a record of 429-171. He was named an ABCA regional coach of the year in 1986.