WORLD-CLASS FIELD
The largest collection of Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champions since the Beijing Games will be competing in L.A. Lights 2009 Jan. 22-25 at the Culver City Memorial Auditorium.

The L.A. School of Gymnastics hosts and the Culver City Human Services Department sponsors the event that features world-class competitors from 35 countries.

Headlining the field are Russians Eugenia Kanaeva, the Olympic all-around gold medalist, and Olympic silver medalist Inna Jhukova.

“This event is, without a doubt, America’s premier rhythmic gymnastics event,” Tanya Hallman, L.A. School of Gymnastics meet manager, said. “Rhythmic gymnasts from all over the world will be competing.”

BUZZ TURNAROUND
Just a year after going 4-27, the American Basketball Association’s Maywood Buzz has made a dramatic turnaround.

The team moved to 9-1 on the season Sunday with a 115-111 victory over the Los Angeles Slam.
Issac Burton scored 27 points and Wesley Stokes added 23 to lead the Buzz, which rebounded from an early 37-17 deficit. Jashay Rockett led the Slam with 26 points.

Maywood’s next game is against the Inland Empire Rage at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 19 in the MLK Dream Classic at the Maywood Activity Center. The Classic’s first game at 2 p.m. matches the Inland Empire 5 Linx and the L.A. Slam.

TORO SIGNING
The Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s volleyball program has signed Chelsea Thayer, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker from Shingle Springs Ponderosa, to a national letter of intent.

The Northern California native was also recruited by UC San Diego, San Diego State, Cal State Fullerton and Cal Pol Pomona.

Thayer had 56 kills, 14 blocks and 24 service aces as a senior at Ponderosa. She also played for the Bay Area club team, City Beach, which went to the Junior Olympics and placed eighth in the National Division.

Toro coach Scott Davenport said Thayer’s work ethic, “Will complement the strong core of young players we currently have on our squad.”

CSULA HONOREES
Bob Apodaca (baseball), Petra Juraskova (track and field) and Andrea Ferchaw (volleyball) will be inducted into the Cal State L.A. athletics hall of fame Feb. 5.

Apodaca, currently the pitching coach of the Colorado Rockies, starred at Warren High School and Cerritos College before moving on to Cal State L.A. where he won 18 games from 1970-71. He was the team MVP in 1971.

A relief pitcher for the New York Mets in the 1970s, he has been a coach for the Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and Rockies during his 38 years in professional baseball.

LYNWOOD CLINIC
Lynwood High School will be hosting its 14th annual baseball/softball clinic for youngsters 5-18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 7.

Ex-major league baseball players Cecil Fielder, Kenny Landreaux, Eric Davis, Jose Tolentino and Dave Frost will provide instruction.

The school is located at 4050 Imperial Highway in Lynwood. For more information, call (310) 806-7504.

CHRISTOPHER REPEATS
California junior forward Patrick Christopher, the former Dominguez High School star, has repeated as the Pac-10 men’s basketball player of the week.

He averaged 24.5 points and 6.0 rebounds and shot 53.3 percent from the floor in victories over Washington and Washington State. He had career highs of 27 points and 11 rebounds against Washington.

CERRITOS IN SECOND
On the strength of state championships in women’s water polo, women’s soccer and men’s soccer, the Cerritos College athletic program ranks second nationally by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators after the fall season.

Cerritos, with 112.5 points, trails only South Coast Conference rival Mt. San Antonio, which has 117.5, in the standings.

ALL-CIF VOLLEYBALL
San Gabriel High School senior Sylvie Lekhac has been selected All-CIF Division III second team and Serra sophomore middle blocker Edarkis Branch is All-CIF Division IV second team in girls volleyball.

The teams are selected by a committee of coaches.

BASEBALL SIGNUPS
Ladera Heights Pony Baseball is holding signups for boys and girls 4-8 from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays through February at Ladera Park, 6027 Ladera Park Avenue. Volunteer coaches are also needed.

For more information, call (310) 641-4131 or (213) 909-2677.