SPORTS B R I E F S Brian Matusz, a starting pitcher for USD from 2006 to 2008, made his Major League Baseball debut Aug. 4 against Detroit. He won his debut and posted a 5-2 record, 4.63 earned-run average and struck out 38 batters in 44 2/3 innings. The left-hander was the Baltimore Orioles’ No. 1 pick, fourth overall, in the 2008 draft. Men’s and women’s basketball began West Coast Conference play in January after challenging nonconference schedules. Both teams are guaranteed to participate in the WCC Tournament, March 5-8, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Learn more at usdtoreros.com. Josh Johnson, who set several passing records in his USD career (2004-07), made his first NFL start for Tampa Bay on Oct. 4 in a loss to Washington. He started four games as quarterback, including an Oct. 18 game against New England that was played in London. Johnson was the first Torero player ever drafted by an NFL team when he was selected in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008.
I N A P H O T O F R O M 1 9 7 4 , B e n T h o m p s o n ( l e f t ) a n d R o b e r t S m i t h ( r i g h t ) f l a n k t h i s y e a r ’ s C h e t a n d Marguerite Pagni Family Athletics Hall o f F a m e i n d u c t e e S t a n W a s h i n g t o n ( c e n t e r ) .
throw but this is what God wants me to do. This is where I excel.” Washington has reconnected with USD thanks in part to former teammate Tommy Davis. On one visit, he found time to play H-O-R-S-E with Gyno Pomare ’09 (“He beat me,” Washington laughs), who surpassed Washington’s all-time scoring record of 1,472 points last season. “Records come and go, but
what I’ve found over the years is that the relationships you developed are what’s really important,” Washington says. “You grow into a family on and off the court. That reaches far beyond athletics.” Now, what began in Watts will culminate with Washington becoming the 2010 inductee into USD’s Chet and Marguerite Pagni Family Athletics Hall of Fame. Ever the team player, he
says the honor is as much about his former coaches and teammates as it is about him. “I’m extremely grateful and honored,” Washington says. “It makes you reflect on those times and how special they were. I look back at that young man and how he’s grown into the guy I am now, and a lot of that is a direct result of what happened during my four years at the university.”
The women’s softball team will host a pair of spring tournaments in March. The San Diego Classic I is March 5-7; the San Diego Classic 2 is March 18-21. Ninth-year coach Melissa McElvain’s team is led by returning All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference honorees Jennifer Ellenbeck, Kristen Gensler and Cathy Wineinger. Men’s and women’s tennis will host the West Coast Conference championships April 23-25 at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. The men’s team, under the direction of new head coach Brett Masi, is led by junior Dean Jackson. Sophomore Juliette Coupez is among the key players for veteran USD women’s coach Sherri Stephens.
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