Chapjian makes an immediate impact
The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.
Sako Chapjian (Hoover, 2008) junior, Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball: Fresh off a history making run with Glendale Community College last season, the former Tornado has wasted no time in coming up clutch for Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Chapjian announced his presence with a two-run home run in his very first at bat for the Toros, sending a one-out shot to left-center field in the first inning of an 8-7 season-opening victory Friday.
Chapjian, a designated hitter who was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2011, finished his first game going two for four with a pair of runs, two runs batted in and a walk.
In a loss Saturday against Cal State San Bernadino, he also went two for four with a pair of doubles and a pair of runs scored.
Though he went hitless Tuesday against Biola, he did have an RBI groundout that was part of a six-run ninth in Dominguez Hills’ 9-7 comeback win.
Chapjian is currently hitting .364 with three runs and three RBI for the Toros (2-1), who begin California Collegiate Athletic Assn. play Friday at home against San Francisco State.
Chapjian’s former GCC and Glendale Angelino teammate Ellis Whitman is also with the Toros and got his first start on Tuesday, notching two runs on two walks. He’s played in all three games, going one for three with three runs.
Scott Hong (Glendale Community College, 2011) junior, Occidental College baseball: Hong wasted no time in igniting the Tigers this season, notching a hit in his first game, before going three for three with three runs, two runs batted in and triple in a 17-0 win over La Sierra University on Jan. 29.
Hong went two for five with two runs scored on Sunday in a 14-7 over Austin College in a nonconference tilt.
Riding a four-game hitting streak, Hong is hitting .367 (11 for 30) on the year with team-highs of six doubles, three triples and three stolen bases. He also has eight runs batted in and nine runs.
Oxy (5-3) returns to the diamond on Friday with its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener at Redlands.
Chad Nacapoy (Crescenta Valley, 2007) senior, Cal State Los Angeles baseball: Nacapoy’s bat refuses to cool down.
On Monday in a 20-6 demolition of host Biola University, the former Falcons standout and Glendale Angeleno poured on three hits and a two-run home run, his second of the season.
Nacapoy is now batting .590 (13 for 22) with six runs and six runs batted in.
Cal State L.A. (4-2) hosts Cal State Stanislaus on Friday in its California Collegiate Athletic Assn. opener.
Meghan Luera (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2011) freshman, Occidental College softball: Oxy is off to an 0-4 start, but Luera came out swinging in her first-ever college action.
On Thursday, Luera went one for three with two runs batted in and a run scored in a 7-3 loss to George Fox and added a hit and a walk in an 8-4 loss in the second game of the doubleheader.
She’s started all four of her team’s games, either at second base or catcher, and has hit in the No. 3 or No. 4 spot of the batting order. However, she’s gone hitless in her team’s last two and is two for 10 on the season.
Oxy hosts a nonconference doubleheader against La Sierra University on Friday.
Stella Ghazarian (Glendale, 2011) freshman, Pasadena City College women’s basketball: A former Nitros standout who earned All-Pacific League and All-Area honors, Ghazarian is turning in an eventful first season for the Lancers.
After matching a season-high with 23 points on Jan. 18 against L.A. Southwest, Ghazarian’s numbers have waned, scoring just in single-digits in three of her last four games coming off the bench.
Still, for the year, she’s averaging 12.42 points per game, which is second on the team, and has played in all 26 of her team’s games. She’s shooting 33% from behind the three-point line and has made 72 three-balls in all, more than double of any other teammate.
PCC (14-12, 8-6 in South Coast Conference) hosts East Los Angeles today in conference matchup.