Succop keeps kicking

Ryan Succop will surely be irrelevant once again in an NFL preseason game Friday.

Nevertheless Mr. Irrelevant XXXIV, a kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, will be a part of the hoopla when Brett Favre plays his first game in a Vikings uniform at Minnesota at 5 p.m.

While most eyes will be on Favre, the quarterback who once again came out of retirement Tuesday, many Chiefs fans will still be rooting for their kicker.

Succop, who was roasted and toasted in Newport Beach in June, is coming closer to securing a roster spot. The Chiefs waived last year’s kicker, Connor Barth, last month, clearing a path for Succop to become the team’s starter.

In his debut Saturday, Succop, pronounced suck-up, nailed one field goal and two PATs in the Chiefs’ 16-10 loss to the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium. Succop, drafted No. 256 and dead last by Kansas City, connected on a 47-yard field goal as time expired in the first half against Houston.

The Chiefs’ kicker seems to have the right credentials to become their starter.

He played 50 games in four seasons at the University of South Carolina, where he became the Gamecocks’ No. 2 all-time scorer with 251 career points. Succop converted 71 percent of his field goals with a long of 55 yards while at South Carolina, where at times he was also the Gamecocks’ punter.

During his senior season, Succop nailed 66 percent of his field-goal attempts and converted all 30 of his PATs while dealing with a sports hernia injury during the season.

— From staff reports

GAYNER WINS TITLE ON BEACH

Cassidy Gayner, a Newport Harbor High product, was part of a winning tandem that won the girls’ 20-and-under division at the USA Beach Jr. Tour Championships in Huntington Beach Sunday.

Gayner teamed with Alana Long to win the championship.

Alexis Cage of Newport Beach paired with Megan Gibbs to finish second in the girls’ 14-and-under division.

Connor Hughes, a Costa Mesa resident and an incoming freshman at UC Irvine, finished second in the boys’ 18-and-under division with Brandon Fuimaono.

— From staff reports

LIGHTNING TAKE SECOND

Sage Hill School won its pool, but finished second in its division at the eighth annual Kauai Challenge Girls’ Volleyball Invitational Saturday in Kauai, Hawaii.

Sage Hill reached the final of the Onipa’a Division. Sacred Heart of Los Angeles won the title match, 25-11, 25-16.

The Lightning beat Clovis, 25-15, 25-11, and Roosevelt of Fresno, 25-15, 25-18, to win their pool.

“We certainly could’ve done better, but it was good for our confidence,” Sage Hill Coach Dan Thomassen said. “We got some experience for our team and for the girls who needed it. It was a great team bonding trip. And it was a great way to get everyone focused on our goals and be the best team in our division.

— From staff reports

EX-UCI TEAMMATES THIRD

Former UC Irvine All-American setter Ryan Ammerman teamed with UCI junior Anthony Spittle to tie for third at the Sinjin Smith College Beach Volleyball Championships Aug. 8 in Long Beach.

Hardy Woolridge, representing Orange Coast College and teamed with Irvine Valley’s Taylor Rosas, finished tied for fifth in the 20-team event.

Current OCC performer Justin Johnson paired with former Pirate Rick Schroeder to tie for ninth, while former OCC standout Mike Stewart, bound for Ohio State, tied for 14th with partner Scott Liljestrom, who represented Princeton.

UCI representative Grant Keene, as well as current and former OCC players Drew Wilson, Paul Leon, Jake Melone, Patrick Boyle, Ryan Gonzales, Zack Minnie, Luke Ammerman and Mike Lakin also competed.

— From staff reports