BASEBALL NOTES : Cypress’ France Signs With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Aaron France, a sophomore right-hander from Cypress College who went to Loara High. They drafted him in the third round Thursday.

France, 12-4 with a 2.82 earned-run average this season, had signed a letter of intent to play at Miami.

He will report next week to Welland (Ont.) of the Class A New York-Penn League.

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Dennis Crine, a Saddleback College pitcher, signed with the Chicago White Sox, who picked him in the seventh round. Crine, who was 10-4 with a 2.15 ERA this season for Saddleback, will report next week to the White Sox’s Class A assignment camp in Sarasota, Fla.

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The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Pepperdine catcher Keith McDonald, a former Esperanza and Cypress College player, in the 24th round. . . . The Colorado Rockies picked Pepperdine pitcher Jason Dietrich, who played at Rancho Santiago, in the 19th round.