Babe Herman on hiatus

GLENDALE — For those who have made plans to attend the Babe Herman Tournament at Stengel Field during the next several days, you might want to find some other form of entertainment.

Because the Glendale Unified School District took a late spring break this year, the annual Babe Herman Tournament won't be played. The tournament won't be held for only the second time since it started in 1964.

Crescenta Valley High baseball Coach Phil Torres said he did everything within his power to have the tournament take place. Torres, who has led the Falcons to five consecutive Pacific League championships, sent out personal letters to coaches and placed an announcement on the CIF Southern Section website.

It went for naught.

"Our spring break is just so late this year, and I couldn't find teams to play," said Torres, whose team will instead compete today in a nonleague doubleheader against Marian Catholic High in San Diego. "We are heartbroken that we can't have the tournament."

Teams from outside the area couldn't commit to competing in the tournament, which was traditionally hosted by Crescenta Valley, Glendale and Hoover, because those schools are not on their spring break.

Torres — Babe Herman's chief organizer in his 10 years coaching at CV — scrapped the tournament, which normally has fielded between 12-14 teams, in November.

"We couldn't get one single team [from outside the area] to sign a contract saying they could come to the tournament," Torres said. "There have been some good teams who have played in this tournament. Our kids were disappointed, as are the people in the community.

"Only Crescenta Valley, Glendale and Hoover could have participated this year, but you can't have a three-team tournament. We see each other enough."

Longtime Hoover Coach Jim Delzell said it will be odd not having the tournament take place. Delzell, before becoming a coach, attended tournament games in the late-1960s when his brother, Bob, starred for Glendale.

"It's a kind of tradition and the players count on the tournament being on the schedule," Delzell said. "It's disappointing not being able to have it, but I understand.

"It threw me for a loop. We have no games during spring break."

Local players expressed disappointment, including Crescenta Valley star pitcher Dustin Emmons.

"It's a fun tournament, and it's always nice to have people come down to the yard," said Emmons, who will attend UC Riverside in the fall. "It's going to be a little weird not having it this year."

Torres, who led Crescenta Valley to the CIF Southern Section Division I championship in 1998, said he's planning for the tournament to resume next year. Once he finds out when spring break will be held, he'll immediately begin contacting various schools.

The Falcons have won the tournament a record seven times. They won the crown in 1964, 1977, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Glendale won the tournament in 1966 and 1969. Hoover captured the tournament in 1972, 1973 and 1975.

The West Glendale Kiwanis Club, Glendale Parks and Recreation and the Crescenta Valley baseball program present the tournament.