San Diego Sockers

Blast tonight Matchup: San Diego Sockers (11-15) vs. Blast (21-8) Site: 1st Mariner Arena Time: 7:05 TV: CN8 Radio: WCBM (680 AM) Outlook: The Sockers are in a desperate mode. Currently in second place in the Western Division, San Diego needs a win tonight and again tomorrow night in Philadelphia to help its playoff picture. In the MISL, the three division leaders make the playoffs, in addition to the next three teams with the best regular-season records. At the moment. San Diego would be the sixth seed, but St. Louis is 10-16, just one game back with eight left after tonight.

Baseball Cincinnati Reds -- Recalled P Gino Minutelli from Class AAA Nashville.Kansas City Royals -- Announced that pitching coach Pat Dobson has resigned. Named as his replacement Omaha Royals pitching coach Guy Hansen for the rest of the season.CollegeLehigh -- Named Richard J. Costello men's assistant basketball coach.Nebraska -- Reduced by 1 the number of men's basketball scholarships for the 1991-92 scholarship year. The school will make 1 fewer official visit of prospective athletes for the 1991-92 academic year.

The San Diego Sockers and the Dallas Sidekicks have come under new ownership and will be treated as new franchises in the 1991-92 season, Major Soccer League commissioner Earl Foreman announced yesterday.Foreman also said the Wichita Wings, who had to meet a 5,000 season ticket sale deadline by 5 p.m. yesterday, reached their goal and are ready to show a letter of credit. Foreman also said the Tacoma Stars are approximately 2,600 season tickets from their goal of 4,000, which they must meet by July 29.The new owners of the Sockers are Oscar Ancira Sr. and his son Oscar Jr. who own Delimex, a Mexican frozen food company; VAMSA, the largest investment group in Mexico; and Alejandro Burillo, executive vice president of the Televisa group, which deals with American television affiliates.

ALL-TIME COACHING RECORDS.`* MSL regular season 235-135* Overall regular season indoors 272-166* MSL playoffs 64-31* Overall playoffs indoors 75-31* All-time pro coaching record 566-361-27(Includes indoors, outdoors, regular season and playoffs)NEWMAN VS. ACTIVE MSL COACHES&Reg. Season Playoffsvs. Kenny Cooper, Blast 14-21 15-8vs. Kai Haaskivi, Cleveland 8-3 0-0vs. Billy Phillips, Dallas 9-5 8-5vs. Dave Clements, Kansas City 20-13 7-5vs. Don Popovic, St. Louis 16-13 5-1vs. Keith Weller, Tacoma 2-4 0-0vs.

Blast midfielder Paul Wright, the team's leading scorer and the Major Indoor Soccer League's Player of the Month in October, said he has quit the team in protest of the firing of former head coach Kevin Healey earlier this month. After playing in the team's first game under new coach Sean Bowers last Friday, a home loss to the Philadelphia KiXX, Wright did not travel to Harrisburg the following night, and then was out again in last night's win over the visiting Milwaukee Wave. "I told them I quit," said Wright, 33, who had 24 points in eight games played this season.

San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Victor Nogueira, who set a league record with 31 victories, has been named the 1990-91 Major Soccer League's Most Valuable Player.The award is given annually to the player considered most valuable to his team during the regular season and is selected by 16 media representatives, two from each of the MSL's eight cities.Nogueira -- whose Sockers are awaiting the start of the MSL championship series May 10 against the winner of the Eastern Division final between Kansas City and Cleveland -- received 45 of a possible 80 points, including seven first-place votes.

BaseballBoston Red Sox -- Purchased the contracts of P Eric Wedge and OF Wayne Housie from Class AAA Pawtucket. Moved SS Tim Naehring and P Mike Miller from the 21- to the 60-day DL.California Angels -- Recalled OF Ruben Amaro from Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League.Milwaukee Brewers -- Called up IF/OF Tim McIntosh, OF Jim Olander, P Cal Eldred and P Chris George from Class AAA Denver.BasketballCharlotte Hornets -- Signed G John Crotty.CollegesColorado State -- Named Corey Johnson athletic director.

BASEBALL (AL)* California Angels -- Signed Doug Rader (manager) to a two-year contract extension through the 1992 season.* Cleveland Indians -- Announced Mark Wiley, Jose Morales, Rich Dauer, Mike Hargrove, Luis Isaac, and Billy Williams (coaches) have been rehired for next season.BASKETBALL (NBA)* Sacramento Kings -- Signed Anthony Bonner (forward) to a three-year contract.FOOTBALL (NFL)* League -- Suspended Terry Taylor (Detroit Lions cornerback) for life after testing positive for illegal substances for a third time.

The Hummers Sporting Cafe unlimited team won the Soccer America/Mitre National Indoor Championship in Atlanta last weekend.The team representing Hummers, of Fallston, won seven games to outlast 31 other teams from across the country, including the San Diego Sockers reserve team and The Spartans, a team composed of former Washington Stars players coached by John Kerr. They finally earned the championship with a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Stars.Midfielder Sam Mangione earned Most Valuable Player honors and midfielder Roberto Ascenzi and goalkeeper Brian Hartlove were named to the all-tournament team.

Baseball Senior Professional Baseball League -- Announced former Red Sox OF/DH Jim Rice has agreed to play with St. Petersburg.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Signed free-agent OF Darryl Strawberry to 5-year, $20.3 million contract.CollegesNCAA -- Placed Missouri's basketball team on two years' probation and banned school from NCAA tournament in March.Baylor -- Announced QB J.J. Joe will miss rest of season with broken thumb.Missouri -- Announced assistant basketball coaches Bob Sundvold and Rich Daly had resigned, effective at end of season.