Vargas Looks to Stay Undefeated

Former U.S. Olympic welterweight Fernando Vargas of Oxnard will try for a third victory in as many professional fights when he faces Bill Burden of Las Vegas in a six-round bout Saturday night at the Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Vargas, 19, recorded a first-round knockout over Jorge Morales in his pro debut in March at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. He followed with a second-round technical knockout of Claude Staten in April in Atlantic City, N.J.

Burden is 2-2-1 with one knockout.

The bout is on the undercard of the World Boxing Council international heavyweight title fight between David Tua and Ike Ibeabuchi.

Heavyweight Adam Flores of Oxnard, 2-1 with one knockout, is scheduled for a four-round bout against an opponent to be determined.

On the mend: Burroughs High pitcher Robert Barillas will undergo surgery this week to repair broken cheekbones after he was hit in the face by a line drive in an American Legion baseball game Saturday.

Barillas, a junior who was 1-0 with a 4.85 earned-run average in limited action for the Indians this season, was pitching for Burbank South against Saugus when he was hit in the first inning.

“You can still see the marks of the ball on his face,” said Burroughs baseball Coach Jose Valle. “We hope he’s going to be OK. He’s supposed to be our No. 2 [pitcher] next year.”

Barillas was a running back on the football team, leading the Indians with 700 yards rushing and eight touchdowns last season.

Sign ‘em up: Nely Horowic, winner of 15 national junior tournaments in Israel, has accepted a women’s tennis scholarship from Cal State Northridge.

Horowic, from Ramat Hasharon, is considered by many to be the top junior player in Israel. She is the second recruit signed by Matador Coach Tony Davila, joining Kara DiFranco.

Linebacker-fullback Russell Farrar of Nordhoff High has committed to Division II Southern Oregon.

Farrar, a member of The Times’ All-Ventura team and the Ventura County small schools co-offensive back of the year last season, probably will play running back.

Chatsworth High outside hitter Jennifer Joseph has committed to Cal State Bakersfield. The 5-foot-9 senior was a three-time All-City Section 4-A Division selection.

Hoover High basketball and volleyball standout Andrew Russell has decided to attend California, where he plans to play club volleyball and walk on to the basketball team.

The 6-foot-4 Russell was a two-time All-Pacific League selection in both sports.

Three Campbell Hall High girls’ volleyball players have committed to colleges--5-foot-8 outside hitter Casey Ragland to Chico State, 5-9 opposite hitter Amanda Taggart to Sonoma State and 5-6 setter-opposite hitter Stephanie Thompson to Cal State Bakersfield.

Coaching encore: Kate Cerruti, the track and field coach at Crespi High from 1993-95, will return to that post for the 1997-98 school year.

Cerruti, who also coached track at Alemany from 1984-87, replaces Joe Bunevacz, who resigned last month after being coach for two years.