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Instead of starting something, Bryan Longpre would rather be a finisher. A two-month stint competing for the Palm Springs Power served the Crescenta Valley High graduate well over the summer, and perhaps the trend will continue while finishing his collegiate career at Cal State Northridge next spring. With the goal of possibly being the closer for the upcoming campaign at CSUN, Longpre found a new role closing games for the Power, a summer collegiate league team composed of Division I athletes from around the country.

For many true freshmen, the most they can usually hope for is a chance — an opportunity to showcase their raw skills for only a few minutes each game in hopes that somewhere down the road, they may earn that starting spot. But to burst onto the scene merely a year removed from high school, only to dazzle at the four-year level, is often an improbable dream. For former Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy standout Sam Orlandini, the starting setter for the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team, it’s a reality.

NORTHRIDGE — Cal State Northridge baseball Coach Steve Rousey sat in the dugout eyeballing more than 50 young athletes scattered across the university’s diamond under a sunny sky Tuesday morning. Some of the them were involved in hitting drills, while others worked on fielding and pitching. The more they worked at each drill station, the more Rousey could see noticeable improvements in a short period of time while conducting the third and final week of the fifth annual Northridge Baseball Camp.

GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes playing at the collegiate level .   Kris Kauppila (Crescenta Valley High, 2008) University of Portland freshman shortstop : Last year’s All-Area Baseball Player of the Year took little time adjusting to the college ranks, hitting a home run in his first NCAA at-bat en route to a torrid freshman season. “I was pretty surprised,” said Kauppila of how well he adjusted to the college ranks, “because I had a lot friends who played Division I ball and they told me how much tougher it was. They said it’s a pretty big adjustment.

NORTHRIDGE — Progress achieved following the completion of various drills on the diamond could be seen in color. Using a black Sharpie, the results seen in throwing, running and hitting drills were written on T-shirts to provide a perspective on how each of the campers who participated in the fourth annual Northridge Baseball Camp at Cal State Northridge grasped each facet of the sport. La Crescenta resident and CSUN baseball Coach Steve Rousey looked eagerly at how the campers fared following each drill completed during the final week of the camp.

TOLUCA LAKE ? Launching monstrous drives and the ability to display deft short games figured to be the recipe for winning the 97th annual California Amateur Championship. For Nick Delio and Austin Roberts, they consistently used those facets of their game to gain momentum en route to reaching the tournament?s title match. Things happened to work a bit more in Delio?s favor. The sixth-seeded Delio defeated the 20th-seeded Roberts, 7 and 5, in the championship match Saturday at Lakeside Golf Club.

TOLUCA LAKE ? No matter the circumstances, he wasn?t going to squander a golden opportunity. About two weeks ago, Nick Delio was at his Valencia home when the phone rang. It was the Southern California Golf Assn., which invited Delio to participate in the 97th annual California Amateur Championship at Oakmont Country Club and Lakeside Golf Club. At first stunned by the query, the 18-year-old Delio eventually accepted the invitation. Then he made the most of his chance. The sixth-seeded Delio reached the apex of his career Saturday when he knocked off 20th-seeded Austin Roberts, 7 and 5, at Lakeside to win the championship.