Falcons

BOYS' GOLF Crescenta Valley, Hoover in Pacific League match No. 4: Adrian Chia and Aaron Peskett each carded five-over-par 76s on Thursday in a Pacific League match at De Bell Golf Club in Burbank. Alan Cho had a 78 for Hoover. Paul Park registered an 82 for the Falcons, who qualified for the CIF Southern Section Northern Regional at Ojai's Soule Park on May 9 after finishing third in league. Crescenta Valley finished third with a 400 and improved to 13-10, 8-8 in league.

For the first three innings of Saturday's National Division game of the Babe Herman Tournament, the Crescenta Valley and Eastern high baseball teams lit up the scoreboard for a combined 14 runs. For the next four innings, however, the Falcons and Vikings could hardly get a runner on base, as they combined for just two hits. With the score tied at 7, the scoring resumed in the eighth inning at Stengel Field. That's when Eastern, out of New Jersey, took a one-run lead before the Falcons rallied for a 9-8 victory when Kyle Murray singled home Patrick Adams to end it. The Falcons (8-4)

NORTHEAST GLENDALE ? As the first opportunity of the summer to run plays against live competition, summer passing leagues can speak volumes about the state of any football team in its early stages of preparation. For the Crescenta Valley High football team, which intends to return to a spread passing offense this season, Saturday?s Falcon Passing Classic at the Glendale Sports Complex was especially telling. While there?s still much work to be done, the Falcons? 6-1-1 record on the day, resulting in the consolation bracket championship, was enough to reassure second-year Coach Tony Zarrillo that the transition is feasible.

ARCADIA — Having been a part of the competitive rivalry for more than two decades, Crescenta Valley High boys’ volleyball Coach John Nelson wasn’t about to celebrate anything when his squad built a two-game lead in a key Pacific League match against Arcadia on Friday night. “I didn’t expect [Arcadia] to go away,” said Nelson, whose team posted a 25-23 27-25, 15-25, 25-16 league road victory. “This was a hard one. “We haven’t won too many times in this gym, so now it’s a good feeling.

BOYS' GOLF Crescenta Valley 194, St. Francis 212: Paul Park and Adrian Chia of Crescenta Valley and Vince De Pinto of St. Francis shared medalist honors Tuesday with one-over-par 37s in a nonleague match at Brookside Golf Course No. 1. Jason Lee fired a 38 for the Falcons (10-8). On Monday, Crescenta Valley earned a 209-215 nonleague victory against San Marino at the same venue. Chia carded an even-par 36 to lead the Falcons, which received a 39 from Park.

NORTHWEST GLENDALE — Despite battling a nagging injury as of late, Erin Ashby has had enough stamina to retire batters with little difficulty. Ashby, a pitcher on the Crescenta Valley High softball team, has been able to mix up her pitches and change speeds effectively to disrupt the timing of the hitters. She more than convinced herself, her coach and the opposition that she can continue the trend after her effort in the circle Tuesday afternoon. Ashby struck out 12 and allowed one hit to spark visiting Crescenta Valley to a 5-0 Pacific League win against Hoover.

I want to add my congratulations to the 1973 Falcon football team for their induction into the Crescenta Valley High School Athletic Hall of Fame. It was my privilege to be one of the coaches, and I wish I could have come to the ceremony. There are several reasons, in addition to the CIF Championship, that they are deserving of this honor. As young men they demonstrated fine attributes both on and off the athletic field: They were dedicated. After the previous season (5-4), they came forward and declared their desire to be champions and their willingness to do what it took to succeed.

The Crescenta Valley High football team can't predict what it will accomplish this season. Paul Schilling is a head coach for the first time at the school, he has a cast of young and inexperienced players and the Falcons are still trying to find the right personnel for their offensive and defensive schemes. On a team that has plenty of question marks, there's one steadfast presence that is prepared to lead the Falcons. He's a linebacker and an offensive lineman that his teammates call the teacher of the team.

LA CRESCENTA — Auditions have begun in earnest for those looking to grab a spot on the Crescenta Valley High football team in the fall. That's one of the many purposes designed for spring football, which saw the Falcons begin their sessions May 10. Under first-year Coach Paul Schilling, the Falcons will largely be a different cast from the one that finished 8-4 and 5-2 in the Pacific League for second place last year. Players are ready and willing to step up, something Schilling noted.