Antelope Valley

PASADENA — Crescenta Valley High boys’ basketball player Nick Dragovich appeared in good shape for his summer league debut. The senior needed to be since the Falcons needed to work extra hard to get a win. The forward scored 19 points, including four in overtime, to propel Crescenta Valley to a 59-53 win against Maranatha in an opening-round contest of the Maranatha Tournament on Friday afternoon. Dragovich did everything well for the Falcons, who later Friday night played a winner’s-bracket game against Antelope Valley or South Hills.

VAN NUYS — In no time, Kathryn Poet and Jade Terry found themselves on the diamond surrounded by stars. Make that a cast of all-stars that included the duo. Poet and Terry each played a role Wednesday afternoon in helping the East Team notch a 7-3 victory against the West Team in the San Fernando Valley Classic All-Star Game at Birmingham High. Poet, who graduated Sunday from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, scored a key insurance run in the eighth inning and played left field for three innings in game geared for top seniors from the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Antelope and Conejo valleys.

MONTROSE ? Corey Tavizon got what he wanted: complete control. Tavizon could do no wrong whenever he pitched or hit the ball. He hit two home runs, drove in seven runs and struck out eight to lead the Crescenta Valley Minor Baseball squad to a 12-4 victory against rival Tujunga on Tuesday in the Little League District 16 if-necessary championship game at Montrose Park. Crescenta Valley, which posted an 8-5 victory against Tujunga on Monday in the championship contest, will next compete in the Section 2 Tournament.

TUJUNGA — For the first four innings, the Crescenta Valley 10-11 All-Star Baseball team couldn’t buy a hit. It’s a good thing Crescenta Valley had two more innings available to reverse that trend. Crescenta Valley couldn’t have waited for a more opportune time to do so. Crescenta Valley busted out of its cocoon by scoring nine runs in the final two innings to secure a 9-4 victory against Tujunga on Tuesday night in the District 16 Little League All-Stars Tournament at Tujunga Little League Fields.

Here's a challenge for all you NIMBYers, naysayers, malcontents, apathetics and ignoramuses to contemplate: Put yourself in the shoes of an elected official trying to do what's best when the power brokers have given you the choice of getting nothing for your community or going along for the ride and maybe getting something. The easy response is that you would tell the crooks and liars, the special interests and the greed merchants, to go to hell. I know I would, but who would vote for me?

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Although Ronald Gray is only an incoming freshman on the Glendale Community College men's basketball team, his first-half shooting resembled that of a veteran in Wednesdays' GCC summer league basketball against Antelope Valley College. But the Marauders contained Gray, who scored 13 first-half points, to only two points in the second half, to beat the Vaqueros, 59-55, and remain undefeated in league play.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — For the final 20 minutes of Saturday's third-place game in the Vaquero Challenge Tournament, Antelope Valley College kept the Glendale Community College men's basketball team at an arm's length. The Marauders' lead hovered between 10 and 15 points for most of the second half, and while the Vaqueros were able to break within single digits with time to make a push, their error-ridden play over the closing minutes underscored an evening of missed opportunities and resulted in a 69-52 loss.

GLENDALE — Citing increased customer demand, Metrolink is expanding the number of weekend trains that run through Glendale and Burbank, Metrolink officials said. Starting today, Metrolink will increase the number of trains from four to six on the Antelope Valley Line, between Lancaster and Union Station, which services Burbank and Glendale. On Sunday, Metrolink will begin running three trains on the Antelope Valley Line. “This new service increases the options for our passengers,” Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE ? During some stretches of Saturday night?s game, the Glendale Community College men?s basketball team looked like a crisp and athletic squad. During other times, the Vaqueros looked like an inexperienced and young team. Unfortunately for the Vaqueros, the latter was true more often against Antelope Valley College in the third-place game of the Vaquero Classic. Glendale college started flat and never led, falling to Antelope Valley, 70-67, at home. ?

Having already captured three Western State Conference and Southern California championships, Grace Zamudio would next like to make a name for herself statewide. The Glendale Community College standout distance runner will seek to complete the task when she takes to the track Friday and Saturday at the California Community College Athletic Assn. Track and Field State Championships at College of San Mateo. The sophomore will look to close out her fabulous career at Glendale by attempting to win the 10,000-meter race Friday and the 5,000 and 1,500 on Saturday.