Briefly In Sports

Simpson falls in third round to Slater

Huntington Beach’s Brett Simpson lost Tuesday morning in the third round of the Hurley Pro surfing tournament held at Lower Trestles in San Clemente.

Simpson fell to nine-time world champion Kelly Slater, who’s also a two-time defending champion in this event. Slater out-pointed Simpson, 16.83-9.24.

Simpson, who won the U.S. Open of Surfing at the Huntington Beach Pier in July, was a wild-card in the Hurley Pro, the only World Tour event on the U.S. mainland. In the first round, he won his four-person heat with a 14.24 score, topping Taj Burrow and Dean Morrison of Australia.

Simpson, 24, a Huntington Beach High alumnus, is trying to surf his way onto the pro circuit by finishing top-15 in the World Qualifying Series standings. He’s currently No. 8.

The Hurley Pro continues through Saturday at Lower Trestles. Like at the U.S. Open, the first-place prize has been bumped up to $100,000.

H.B. field hockey team wins in Florida

The Huntington Beach High girls’ field hockey team got its season off to a magical start, capturing the 2009 KSA Fall Classic field hockey tournament Sept. 3-5 at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Huntington Beach went 4-0 in the tournament, beating three teams from New York and another from Massachusetts.

Coach Cathy Van Doornum said it was a team effort, as 10 Oilers scored in the tournament.

Huntington Beach was also able to enjoy the local theme parks, including Disney World, the Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach Water Park. This was the first time Huntington Beach High has attended an out-of-state tournament.

The Oilers varsity team consists of Brooke Berns, Corinne Clegg, Chelsey Finamore, Meagen Good, Jordan James, goalie Maelen Lockhart, Julianne Lucas, Jordan Mulholland, Ashlyn Pooler, Claire Prestridge, Maggie Prizler, Taryn Rescigno, Lindsay Sebastian, Gina Taglieri, Elizabeth Tornheim, Jessica Van Arsdale and Stephanie Walters.

Vikings looking for baseball players

The Huntington Beach Vikings are looking for 13-and-under baseball players for their travel team.

For more information, contact Scott Wagers at [email protected] or (714) 469-7121.