Top 10 Individual Performances In A Team Setting:

The area’s top 10 individual performances in a team setting from the 2008-09 season were voted on by the sportswriters of the Glendale News-Press.

1 Baillie leaves a lasting — and historic — impression, May 28 Baillie leaves a lasting — and historic — impression, May 28 — With the game on the line and a record to be broken, Baillie Kirker took one last, magnificent swing in her storied Crescenta Valley High career and, fittingly, it ended with a home run falling beyond the outfield fence.

“That defines Baillie Kirker right there,” teammate Stephanie Ziemann said. “Totally clutch.”

With her Falcons down, 2-1, in the bottom of the sixth inning against Chino Hills in the CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinals, Kirker culminated her career with a solo home run that tied the game and broke a tie for the California career home run record. Her 53rd career home run capped a day in which she went two for two with two runs batted in, a run scored and a walk. It would’ve been perfect had the Falcons won, but Kirker was left standing in the on-deck circle in the seventh inning.

Still, it was certainly a spectacular exclamation mark to a spectacular season and career for the mighty Kirker.

“I thought for sure [the pitcher would] walk me,” Kirker said. “The coach told her to go at her and I said, ‘OK.’”

2 Verso keys a Golden night, March 16 Verso keys a Golden night, March 16 — Whether it was in the Golden Knights’ run to the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals or to a CIF Southern California Regional Division II championship, St. Francis High’s Eric Verso was clutch.

He had eight goals in seven postseason matches and in a 4-2 regional championship win against San Diego Cathedral Catholic, had a goal and two assists.

He scored in just the second minute of the match, then assisted in the eighth. His second assist came before the 25th minute.

“He worked harder than anyone else in our program,” St. Francis Coach Glen Appels said. “He never takes a day off in improving himself.”

3 Baldridge makes a run for the ages, Jan 16 Baldridge makes a run for the ages, Jan 16 — It had been a long time since Crescenta Valley’s girls’ soccer team had defeated rival Arcadia at Arcadia — since 1997, in fact.

And All-Area Player of the Year Tori Baldridge took it upon herself to change all that.