Sports briefs: Ex-Fresnan Kendrick gets 1-year ban from tennis

Robert Kendrick, a former Fresnan, was suspended for a year by the International Tennis Federation on Friday after testing positive for a banned stimulant at the French Open.

After failing the May 22 test, Kendrick (Bullard, Clovis West highs) said the stimulant got into his system because of a capsule he took to combat jet lag. He denied trying to enhance his performance. Kendrick lost in the first round at Roland Garros.

The ITF accepted his account, but said a player is responsible for any banned substance in his body. His suspension runs until May 21, 2012.

The 31-year-old Kendrick reached a career-best ranking of 69th in 2009 and is currently 105th.

Cal-Hi honors Moranda, Nevills with annual awards

Former Buchanan High star Seth Moranda was named the Division I Athlete of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports, which also honored Nick Nevills of Clovis as its Freshman Athlete of the Year.

Moranda – now in the Atlanta Braves’ system with the rookie-level Gulf Coast Braves – was 12-1 as a pitcher this past spring with a 1.18 ERA while also leading the team in home runs with seven. As the quarterback for the football team, Moranda also passed for 1,716 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Nevills in March became the first freshman in state history to win the heavyweight wrestling title, defeating Gabi Musaliam of Mira Mesa-San Diego 5-0 in the final to help Clovis capture its ninth team state title. Nevills’ season record was 49-3.

For the second year in a row, Serra-Gardena had the state’s Athlete of the Year, with Marqise Lee (a three-sport star in football, basketball, track and field) following Robert Woods from a year ago.

T-Mac in Seahawks camp

Tim McDonald – who in May was named football coach for a second time at his alma mater, Edison High – is interning as an assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks during training camp as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship program.

McDonald, 46, is a USC graduate and six-time Pro Bowler who played 12 years in the NFL with the Cardinals and 49ers. He was 58-24-2 in his first go-round with the Tigers from 2003-09.

The Walsh program has mentored more than 1,500 coaches over the years – among them current head coaches Mike Tomlin, Marvin Lewis, Lovie Smith and Raheem Morris.

Braves go 4-0 in pool play

The Central Valley Braves finished up pool play in the 14-year-old USA Xtreme Diamond Sports World Series in San Diego with an 8-2 win over the LQ Outlaws.

The Braves finished pool play 4-0 and are the No. 2 seed going into the 20-team elite division playoffs today. The tournament championship is Sunday.

Grizzlies advance in Denver

The Central California Grizzlies 14s baseball team beat the HitStreak Assault from Lone Tree, Colo., 13-8 Friday to advance to the quarterfinals of the 22-team Triple Crown World Series in Denver.

Albert Gonzalez had a three-run homer to lead an 18-hit attack. Stevie Guerra got the win and Anthony Munguia recorded a save.

The Grizzlies face the Arlington (Texas) Heat this morning.

The Grizzlies went 3-1 in pool play this week. They beat the Colorado Springs Rebels 7-5, with Ryan Duff getting the pitching win and Guerra the save. They scored 11 in the final inning to beat the Fort Collins (Colo.) Sabres 13-12; Danny Arciga got the win and Duff the save. And they lost 15-7 to the Arizona Prowlers despite a double, triple and four RBIs from Gonzalez.

The Fresno Bee