Hamlet Nalbandyan
Dan Berry has sarcastically said for some time now that his team will
have its work cut out to finish in the upper half of the Pacific
League.
Considering that Crescenta Valley has gone 50-0 in league the past
five years, and has never finished worse than third, Berry's
statements have been quite humorous.
But you won't hear the long-time Falcon coach saying anything like
that this time around, at least not sarcastically.
Because the Falcons will have to pull out all the stops to finish
in the top three.
Like usual, four teams -- CV, Arcadia, Glendale and Hoover -- will
be battling for a postseason berth, but unlike the recent past,
little separates the quartet.
"You could easily have a team go 7-3 and win league," Berry said.
The most legitimate contenders for the throne are CV, Glendale and
Hoover, since Arcadia graduated almost its whole roster from last
season.
For the Falcons, Sarah Sherman and Kaycee Crownover will carry the
load, both at the plate and in the circle. Kirsten Whitt, who will
make the move from center field to shortstop, could be the area's
best hitter.
But the wild card is junior catcher Amanda Peek. Remember her?
One of the area's finest Little League baseball players ever,
she's spent the past two years on CV's junior varsity baseball team.
But she decided to play softball this year, and according to Berry,
she could end up one of the best catchers in school history.
At Glendale, Kris Kohlmeier's group will be led by a pair of
Division I players in Heather Hamasaki (Lehigh) and Danielle Soule
(Colgate). The Nitros -- who were edged out by Hoover for the final
playoff spot last year -- also have two future college players in
sophomore Audrey Andrade and Priscilla Lopez.
Hoover has similar talent, led by do-it-all player Kristal
Phillips, who Coach Kirt Kohlmeier says could be one of the finest
all-around players he's ever had.
As for the rest of the area teams, La Canada figures to ho-hum
its way to a fifth straight Rio Hondo League title.
Even with the graduation of News-Press All-Area Player of the Year
Kelly Kalish, first-year Coach Brock Turner is loaded with talent,
led by seniors Dani Mellin (pitcher), Annalise Rodli (shortstop) and
Kim Gilmour (catcher) and junior Ciri Bryan (third base).
