Crescenta Valley, Glendale baseball ready for Babe Herman Tournament
So much for taking a break from participating in the Pacific League.
Four of the league’s eight baseball teams — including Crescenta Valley High and Glendale — will be a part of the 47th installment of the four-day Babe Herman Tournament, which will begin Saturday and run through Wednesday across venues from Glendale to the San Fernando Valley to the Inland Empire.
The Falcons and Nitros will be joined by league members Pasadena and Arcadia in the 14-team tournament. The event will be presented by the West Glendale Kiwanis Club, Glendale Parks and Recreation and the Crescenta Valley Baseball Program.
“It’s just real hard to break everybody up from our league,” Crescenta Valley Coach Phil Torres said. “A lot of teams in the tournament are not on the same spring breaks.
“You will see some good teams in this tournament, including some goods ones from L.A. City Section. There’s a lot of good variety. It’s going to again come down to who has the best pitching.”
Glendale co-Coaches Chris Funaro and John Tuttle jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the tournament, after the program, once a staple in the tourney, took a lengthy hiatus.
“It’s something that’s been around for quite a long time,” Funaro said. “We wanted to get in because there’s going to be a lot of good team playing.
“It’s a good chance for us to grow and be a part of the tournament. We want to go in there and do the school proud.”
The tournament, named after former Major League Baseball player and Glendale resident Babe Herman, will feature two divisions. Seven teams will participate in the National Division and seven will compete in the American Division. The tournament will conclude with the championship game beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Stengel Field, running Saturday, Monday and Tuesday previously.
Crescenta Valley, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Cajon, Cleveland and Rialto will be in the National Division. The American Division will feature Glendale, Arcadia, Etiwanda, Granada Hills, La Salle, Oak Hills and Yucaipa.
Four of Saturday’s opening day games will take place at Stengel Field — including Crescenta Valley against Cleveland at 7 p.m. — two at Glendale and one at Birmingham. Glendale will meet Granada Hills at 3:30.
The tournament will take a break Sunday.
Crescenta Valley will also host Birmingham at 7 p.m. Monday and Cajon at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Glendale will meet host Pasadena at 3:30 p.m. Monday before meeting visiting La Salle at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The Falcons have won the event a record eight times, posting victories in 1964, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2011. Glendale took the event in 1966 and 1969.
Chatsworth beat Crescenta Valley in the title game last season.
