Magallon reaps honor

Bit and pieces from the local sports scene.

Former Bell-Jeff player earns national recognition: Former Bellarmine-Jefferson High baseball standout Matt Magallon ended his collegiate career with a big accomplishment.

Last month, Magallon, an infielder at Washington Adventist University, was named a 2010 United States Collegiate Athletic Assn. first-team All-American.

This past season, Magallon proved to be one of the most productive players in the conference, leading or finishing near the top in a number of categories.

For the Shock, he batted .417 (40 for 96), had 11 home runs, scored 25 runs, had 78 total bases, stole 10 bases and had an .813 slugging percentage.

It was Magallon’s second season in which he earned All-American honors. Last season, he was also a first-team USCAA pick after batting .361 (44 for 122) with two home runs and 12 runs batted in. He also had five doubles, scored 32 runs, stole 18 bases and had an 18-game hitting streak.

Magallon came to Washington Adventist after playing a season at Glendale Community College. He started his collegiate career at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

A 2005 Bell-Jeff graduate, Magallon earned first-team all-league honors for the Guards as a senior, batting .518 (29 for 67) with 23 RBI and 23 runs scored.

He helped Bell-Jeff capture its first league championship in 26 years.

Casey earns Gold Glove award: Former Bellarmine-Jefferson High baseball star Danny Casey had a fine season for Concordia University in Irvine.

Casey was awarded for his slick glove work at third base this past season by earning a 2010 Golden State Athletic Conference Gold Glove.

On the season, Casey batted .345 with five home runs, 43 RBI, 46 runs scored and 11 doubles.

Casey played at Glendale Community College before playing for Concordia.

A two-time Santa Fe League Player of the Year for Bell-Jeff, Casey earned All-CIF Southern Section accolades as a senior in 2006. That season, along with a .541 (33 for 61) batting average, he scored 28 runs, drove in 27 runs, had eight doubles, six triples and two home runs. Opponents were able to strike out Casey just 10 times, as he tallied a .967 slugging percentage and a .622 on-base average.

Playing primarily at shortstop, he had a .987 fielding percentage with just one error, 61 putouts and 16 assists.

As a junior, he helped the Guards capture the Santa Fe League championship for the first time since 1979.

— Jeff Tully