Sports Notebook: Crescenta Valley High’s Gadsby to play in North-South game
The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
BUSY SUMMER FOR GADSBY
A successful spring has turned into a promising summer for Crescenta Valley High’s Brian Gadsby.
On the heels of a junior season in which he led the Falcons to a Pacific League title and a trip to the CIF Southern Section Division II quarterfinals, Gadsby will now take part in the California Baseball Coaches’ Assn. North-South Series on Saturday and Sunday at Santa Clara University.
“When I got the call, I was pretty excited, I was pretty pumped,” said Gadsby on getting word that he would be playing in the showcase.
After being nominated to try out by Falcons Coach Phil Torres, Gadsby took part in tryouts on Saturday at Mount San Antonio College.
Among a field of an estimated 150-175 players, according to Gadsby, the right-handed starting pitcher threw an inning of ball and retired the side with a strikeout and two pop outs.
“There were a lot of good guys,” Gadsby said. “I didn’t think I was terrible, but I was a little nervous because I didn’t strike out the side. At a lot of these showcases, they’re looking at how hard you’re throwing.”
Now, of course, Gadsby will have one more opportunity to showcase a little more.
SEVEN EARN ALL-LEAGUE HONORS
A group of local boys’ volleyball players picked up All-Pacific League recognition.
Crescenta Valley High, which qualified for the playoffs, had four players selected. Glendale had two picks and Hoover had one.
Among those selected to the first team were Bradley Fernandez and Raymond Barsemian of Crescenta Valley (22-7, 8-4 in league for third place).
Fernandez, a senior middle blocker, contributed 145 kills and had a .380 hitting percentage along with a 93% serving rate. As a junior outside hitter, Barsemian finished with 278 kills and 40 aces.
“Brad was incredibly consistent and a great hitter,” Crescenta Valley Coach John Nelson said. “He performed at a high level all of the time.
“Raymond was big and strong. You had to figure out how to play him on the other side.”
Crescenta Valley senior setter Chris Han (606 assists, 77 kills and 29 aces) earned a spot on the second team, along with senior outside hitter Kyle Hulguin of Glendale.
Those who received honorable mention were Crescenta Valley senior opposite hitter Chris Yi (112 kills), Glendale senior Anthony Yung and Hoover sophomore middle blocker Brandon Knight. Glendale and Hoover each finished 1-11 in league.
WINCHELL HEADED TO VALLEY HALL OF FAME
Crescenta Valley High alumna Megan Winchell, who starred in water polo and swimming as a Falcon before doing the same at Los Angeles Valley College, will be inducted into the L.A. Valley College Hall of Fame on June 28.
After her days as a Falcon, Winchell became a junior college All-American and the 2003 Western State Conference Most Valuable Player at L.A. Valley, finishing with 105 goals, which was second highest in state.
She returned to Valley in 2005 and became an all-state breaststroker in 2005 in swimming before moving on to Long Beach State.
BAGHDASARYAN WINS VIA SPLIT DECISION
Glendale Fighting Club’s Melsik Baghdasaryan returned to the muay Thai squared circle Saturday night at the World Championship Kickboxing Muay Thai International Showdown at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.
Baghdasaryan stayed undefeated in muay Thai competition with a split decision win over Chen Wei Chao. Baghdasaryan is now 5-0 in muay Thai.