Valley Cats place 3rd in tourney
Bits and pieces from the local sports scene.
Baseball team impresses at tournament: The Valley Cats 12-and-under baseball team enjoyed its share of success this past season.
However, the squad might have enjoyed its biggest accomplishment recently when the Pony travel team participated in the Triple Crown World Series in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
In the event that concluded earlier this month, the area squad placed third
Only teams that qualified first or second in Triple Crown tournaments during the season were allowed to participate in the World Series.
The Valley Cats competed against teams from across the United States, winning their first six games with victories against squads from Texas, Colorado and Utah. Three of the wins came by way of mercy rule.
The Valley Cats placed third in the Division 1 Majors bracket, which included 23 teams.
The win allowed the Valley Cats to earn a No. 3 ranking in the nation. The Florida Clat Bat won the division, defeating the locals, 8-4.
One of the high moments for the Valley Cats came when they played against a Texas Baseball team that was undefeated. Down, 8-6, in the sixth inning with two out and Aidan Anding and Ryan Lopez on base, Martin Figueroa came up with a walk-off home run to propel the locals to a 9-8 victory.
In the skills competition, the Valley Cats placed second in the around-the-horn competition and Jose Campos won first place for throwing for distance.
The Valley Cats were coached by Al Lopez, Gerry Perez, Jose Campos and Frank Gonzalez. The team also included, Tanner Whitlock, Max Haddad, Evan Carden, Gerry Perez, Cesar Zamarripa, Joseph Bangle and Anthony Gonzalez.
Hirsch earns International League honor: Resident Jason Hirsh, a right-handed pitcher and California Lutheran University graduate, has recently come up big on the mound for Scranton Wilkes-Barre, the triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
His last two trips to the mound led to him picking up victories and an accolade – International League Pitcher of the Week.
On Sunday, Hirsh, 26, went a season-best eight innings to help power Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to a 12-3 road win against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Hirsh, who is 3-0 in his last three starts, struck out a season-high nine batters to improve to 8-7 and bring his earned-run average below 4.00 for the first time since late May.
On Aug. 3, Hirsh threw five shutout innings against the Syracuse Chiefs in the Yankees’ 5-3 road win. Hirsh scattered three hits, struck out five and walked a pair.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is 68-47 through Sunday and in first place in the North Division. Hirsh, who was acquired by the Yankees from the Colorado Rockies last season, has struck out 92 in 115 1/3 innings. He sports a 3.98 ERA in 24 appearances, 17 of which he started.
Locals taking part in junior hockey league tryouts: Two residents, and Burroughs High graduates, have been invited to take part in tryouts for an organized ice hockey in New Mexico.
Bryan Fiol (a recent graduate) and Trevor Tracy (a 2009 graduate) have been selected to try out for a spot on the new North American Hockey League hockey team in Rio Rancho, N.M. The two started training camp for the New Mexico Mustangs on Monday are hoping to earn spots for the upcoming season. The NAHL season runs from September to March.
Both players grew up in Burbank and have been playing hockey most of their lives. Before playing ice hockey, their careers began at the Burbank YMCA, playing roller hockey. They also played at the roller rink at Ralph Foy Park.
They are hoping their exposure in the league will help them in their desire to play NCAA Division I ice hockey.
Burroughs basketball team ends strongly: If the way it played during the summer is any indication, the Burroughs High girls’ basketball team can look forward to a successful season in the fall.
The Indians recently wrapped up their summer play, finishing with a 43-19 record.
Burroughs notched some quality wins in the Beverly Hills Tournament.
Aysia Shellmire delivered a monster performance in a 40-34 win against Brentwood. Shellmire had 19 points, 22 rebounds and two blocks to lead the way. Teammate Justice Shank added six points and three steals and Chelsea Rhamdeow chipped in six rebounds.
Burroughs was able to get past a tough St. Bernard team, 40-36. Lisha Elsenbach had nine points, four steals and seven rebounds, Shellmire added 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks and Rhamdeow had seven points and four rebounds.
In a 26-25 win against Camarillo, Chelsea Rhamdeow had seven points and three assists, Shank had six points and Elsenbach had seven points and six steals.
The summer campaign came to a close with a 40-39 loss to Balboa Hills. Elsenbach had 15 points, five rebounds and three steals, Rhamdeow had six points, Shellmire had nine points and seven rebounds and Nicole Williams had six points off the bench.
Burbank baseball team ends summer on high note: The Burbank High Connie Mack baseball team ended its summer play on a hot streak.
With a 3-0 win against Simi Valley, the Bulldogs finished the campaign on a five-game winning streak. In addition, the squad allowed just one run in its final three contests.
In a three-hit win against Simi Valley, Paul Gatton started for the Bulldogs (10-5), allowing two hits in three innings Along with allowing three walks, he struck out five.
Ryan Favor threw the next three innings, walking two and giving up only one hit while setting six down with strikeouts. Paul Frias, who caught the first six innings, came in to pitch the seventh and picked up his second save in as many chances.
Burbank’s offense was led by James Johnson, who went two for two with a run batted in. Daniel Starkand doubled and scored a run and Frias picked up the only other hit for Burbank, as well as scoring a run.
Jeff Tully and
Charles Rich