‘Eaters’ Larson honored

UC Irvine senior catcher Francis Larson is the Big West Conference Player of the Week in baseball.

In four games, Larson went nine for 16 with eight runs batted in, including two home runs and seven RBIs in Sunday’s 18-13 Big West win at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, in which he was four for six.

His two home runs give him 22 for his career, one more than former school-record holders Cody Cipriano and Jaime Martinez.

He added two doubles and a triple to post a 1.188 slugging percentage during the week.

Larson is hitting .288 with five homers and 32 RBIs.

— From staff reports

UCI’s Chin recognized

UC Irvine senior John Chin has been named Golfweek’s National Player of the Week after his performance at the Big West Conference Championship.

Chin won medalist honors for the second time in his career at the conference tournament, completed Tuesday at Mission Viejo Country Club.

He shot 68-70-71 for a seven-under total of 209 to win by nine shots in leading UCI to its sixth Big West title since 2001.

Chin, who has an average of 69.83 and 10 top-10 finishes this season, is ranked No. 6 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College rankings and No. 1 in the Golfstat Cup.

— From staff reports

Ross, Kessy victorious

Former Newport Harbor High star April Ross and partner Jennifer Kessy won the Shanghai Open beach volleyball tournament completed Sunday.

They defeated Brazilians Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta, 21-16, 15-12, in the final.

Ross and Kessy defeated Misty May-Treanor and partner Nicole Branagh in the semifinals Sunday.

May-Treanor, also a Newport Harbor alumna, and Branagh lost the bronze-medal match.

In other beach volleyball news: Newport Harbor High standouts Kirby Burnham and Cinnamon Sary teamed to win the 18-and-under title Sunday at the AAU Huntington Beach Open near the Huntington Beach Pier.