Local off to All-Star Game
Bits and pieces from the local sports scene.
Player among 24 national finalists in competition: Burbank resident Erin Lashkari is headed to the 2011 MLB All-Star Game in Phoenix.
Lashkari, who plays for the Skittles in the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Department Ponytail Softball league, will be representing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the 2011 Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition. She will be taking part in the Girls 9-10 Division.
For a second year, a nationwide Girls Softball Division was part of the program which allowed girls to compete and advance separately from the boys throughout the competition. The remaining boys and girls will compete at the national finals — the official youth skills competition of MLB — during MLB All-Star week. The competition will take place July 11 as part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day.
More than 600,000 youth participated in over 4,000 competitions that took place across North America.
Pitch, Hit & Run invites youth to demonstrate their skills by competing in pitching, hitting and running competitions. PHR participants can advance through four levels of competition, beginning at the local level, which can be hosted by organizations, leagues or volunteers within a community, and continuing through sectional and team competitions.
All 30 MLB clubs hosted team championships at their ballparks on weekends from May 28 through June 26. The top three competitors nationwide from each age group (7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14) advanced to the national finals.
Lashkari won a competition in Burbank and advanced to other events in Lancaster and at Angel Stadium.
In addition to the Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run National Finals, the 24 finalists will make a special trip to MLB All-Star FanFest, an interactive baseball theme park and the largest baseball fan event in the world.
Seven area players get invites for VIBL All-Star Game: Four players from Burbank High and three from Burroughs have earned their way on the Valley Invitational Baseball League All-Star roster.
The game will take place at 1 p.m. today at Harvard-Westlake’s home field at the Mid-Valley complex.
For the Bulldogs, catcher Paul Frias, shortstop Dylan Mersola, pitcher/utility Andrew Hernandez and outfielder Ricky Perez were chosen.
They will be joined by Indians designated hitter Christian Garia, pitcher Dylan Goldsack and outfielder Stewart Alexander.
In addition, Burbank Coach Bob Hart was has been selected as one of the coaches of the team that will be run by Casey Burrell of West Ranch.
Indians basketball team has mixed results: The Burroughs High girls’ basketball played some tough games last week in summer league play.
In the Norco Tournament, Burroughs went 2-1.
The team suffered its first loss against Centennial Corona, 45-36. Bailee Trotta had 10 points in the loss.
Burroughs was able to bounce back with a narrow 32-31 victory against Diamond Ranch in overtime. Paula Galicia made the go-ahead layup with 11 seconds remaining for the win in the overtime period.
The Indians also were defeated by Mark Keppel, 40-20, in a game in which Aysia Shellmire had six points, Trotta added four and Davina Del Castillo had four rebounds.
Nicole Williams had 15 points and five rebounds to pace Burroughs to a 50-33 win against Rancho Cucamonga. Trotta added 10 points and five rebounds and Shellmire had six points, six rebounds and three blocks.
In the Saugus Tournament, Burroughs advanced to the fifth-place game, losing to Valencia, 41-24. Shellmire had 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
Also in the tournament, Burroughs defeated Pacifica, 32-30, thanks to some late heroics. Shellmire stole an inbounds pass with seven seconds remaining, scored and got fouled to put the Indians ahead. Shellmire also had eight rebounds and three blocks.
Burroughs wasn’t as fortunate against Alemany, as it fell, 51-17. Williams had six points and Jakarra Waddell added four points.
The Indians were able to pull out a win against West Ranch, 33-26. Shellmire stepped up in the victory, scoring 16 points to go along with 15 rebounds and three blocks. Del Castillo added seven rebounds and Gabriella Pineiro had six rebounds.
Shellmire also had a big game in a 46-36 win against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. She tallied 17 points and had nine rebounds. Pineiro added eight rebounds, Del Castillo had 10 rebounds and Trotta had eight points.
Jeff Tully