Sports Briefs: Shahbazyan off to 3-0 MMA start
CXF 8 delivers action in Burbank
An action-packed California Xtreme Fighting card came and went on Saturday evening at the Los Angeles-Burbank Marriott Convention Center.
Of the 10 bouts, only one went to decision in the Lights Out Promotions/Bash Boxing CXF 8: Cali Kings card that showcased the first round of the promotion’s eight-man lightweight tournament to determine the first-ever Cali King.
In local, non-tournament action, Hoover High product Edmen Shahbazyan continued an impressive start to his professional career as the Glendale Fighting Club trainee improved to 3-0 with a first-round technical knockout of Dejon Daniels (0-2) in their 185-pound middleweight bout.
However, Glendale Fighting Club’s Leon Shahbazyan was dealt his first loss as he was stopped in the first round of a welterweight (170 pounds) tilt against Gabriel Green (5-2) at the 3:23 mark. Shahbazyan is now 4-1.
In tournament action: Roosevelt Roberts (3-0) submitted Dominic Clark (10-7) via guillotine choke at 1:47 of the first round, Richard LeRoy (6-0) stopped Jalin Turner (4-3) via third-round technical knockout at 4:18, Darren Smith Jr. (11-8) TKO’d Thor Skancke (9-8) at the 2:45 mark of the first on punches and Shohei Yamamoto (5-2) handed Joshua Jones (6-1) his first loss via 23-second knockout in the final bout of the night.
In other fights: Milton Arguello (1-1) submitted Chris Mendoza (0-1) in the first via rear-naked choke, AJ Bryant (5-2) stopped Pious Enilolobo (0-1) on punches in the opening round, Sergio Perez (2-0) subbed Isaac Velasco (1-3) via RNC in the first and Kyle Estrada (5-3) won a unanimous decision over Benji Gomez (6-8).
California Xtreme Fighting’s next event and the continuation of the lightweight tournament will be Aug. 19 at a site to be determined.
Bergman collects win against Texas
Christian Bergman, a St. Francis High graduate and former All-Area Baseball Player of the Year, had an effective start Sunday in turning back the Texas Rangers.
The Seattle Mariners right-hander recovered from a tough outing in his previous start, as he yielded two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings in a 7-3 road win. Bergman (4-4) has struck out 30 in 46 1/3 innings and has a 5.44 earned-run average in 10 appearances (nine starts) since being called up in May by the Mariners. Bergman gave up nine runs in 2 2/3 innings in his prior appearance in Minnesota on June 13.
The Mariners reportedly will have starters Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma returning to the rotation, possibly as early as this weekend. If so, Bergman might have another role on the team or be sent to the minors.
“I wanted the opportunity to start and that’s the opportunity I’ve been given here and I’m doing the best I can with it,” Bergman, 29, told the Seattle Times.
Estrada struggles in Toronto win
Former Glendale Community College and current Torondo Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Esstrada struggled through another tough outing Monday.
Luckily for the Blue Jays, they were able to win the game, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth inning to salvage a 7-6 victory on the road.
Estrada didn’t get out of the fourth, as he was chased after 3 2/3 innings for his second shortest outing this season. Estrada surrendered six runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking four in a no-decision. He hasn’t made it out of the fourth three times in his past four starts.
“I’m not happy with myself, the way things went down,” Estrada told MLB.com. “But honestly, I don’t really care what happened. We just won the game, that’s all that matters. There were a few weak hits that inning, and a few walks that hurt me. ... It was an OK outing; the results weren’t good, but I don’t care right now. I’m just glad we won.”
In 15 starts, Estrada is 4-5 with a 4.98 earned-run average with 96 strikeouts and 24 walks in 85 innings.
Glendale seeking junior varsity girls’ tennis coach
Glendale High is undergoing a search for a new girls’ tennis junior varsity coach for the upcoming season.
The season runs from Aug. 10-Nov. 1.
Interested candidates should contact coach Tom Gossard at tgossard@gusd.net or 818-425-7508.