Glendale Community College

If anyone worried James Ellroy might dumb down the salty language laced throughout his crime novels for an appearance at Glendale Community College this week, they wouldn't have been disappointed. Within 90 seconds of taking the stage, the author of "L.A. Confidential" and "The Black Dahlia" had referenced sex, drugs and physical anatomy, a warm-up for the searing commentary on liberals and hipsters that was to follow. It was a refreshingly unabashed articulation of a unique worldview that has produced one of the most distinctive voices on the local literary scene.

FULLERTON - Timely hitting throughout the order and reliable relief pitching have been staples of Glendale Community College baseball success this season. On Friday afternoon, however, they were the Vaqueros' undoing. GCC stranded 13 base runners and its bullpen allowed two runs, as the Vaqueros lost to Palomar, 3-2, in the opening game of the Fullerton Super Regional of the CCCAA tournament at Fullerton College. "We really didn't play our game," said Vaqueros Coach Chris Cicuto, whose team will now play either El Camino Compton Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Santa Ana College, hoping to move on and into another elimination game Saturday afternoon at Fullerton.

Success is quickly becoming synonymous with the Glendale Community College baseball program in its current three-season run to unprecedented heights. For a third year in a row, the Vaqueros will ride into the super regionals and for a second straight year, that journey will take them south to Orange County. "Guys are excited. Guys are less nervous than they were this time last week," said Vaqueros Coach Chris Cicuto, whose squad opens up play at the Fullerton College Super Regional at 11 a.m. Friday against Palomar.

Grace Zamudio likely won't have any trouble getting motivated with another trip to the California Community College Track and Field Championships at stake. Zamudio will lead a group of Vaqueros scheduled to compete in the Southern California Championship on Saturday at Antelope Valley College. The field events begin at 11 a.m., followed by the running events at 1 p.m. Zamudio, who has already advanced to the state meet in the 10,000 on Saturday after clocking 39 minutes 15.48 seconds for a victory at the Southern California Regionals prelims at Antelope Valley College, will attempt to win the 1,500- and 5,000-meter races Saturday.

Jin Park certainly isn't a stranger to the playoff stage. He's soaked up some past experiences, including an appearance with the talented Glendale Community College men's golf team that advanced to the state tournament in 2011. Things will now be a bit different for Park, who will tee off at the Southern California Regionals on Monday at Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club. Park, a Burbank High graduate, will be the lone representative from Glendale college to participate in the 36-hole event and attempt to qualify for the California Community College Athletic Assn.

Glendale Community College's award-winning cheer program will likely be dropped from the school catalog this fall in an effort to save $25,000 annually, officials said. The program has been put on the chopping block as college officials scour the 2013-14 budget for cost savings. Although the cheer team has been sponsored by the college's athletic funds, it is not an official intercollegiate sport. And during tough times, Glendale Community College can no longer afford to keep it on the books, said Paul Schlossman, dean of student affairs.

WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD Glendale Community College at Southern California prelims: There isn't much about the 10,000-meter run for GCC's Grace Zamudio to like. Still, it appears to be her specialty. The Vaqueros sophomore proved that again Saturday at Antelope Valley College when she repeated as the California Community College Southern California 10K champion - the only final of the day - to advance to the California Community College Track and Field Championships, which will take place May 17 and 18 at San Mateo College.

A brush fire has broken out in Glendale between the Ventura (134) and the Glendale (2) freeways, where the transition road has been shut down as firefighters move in. The fire is on the ridge line of the 2100 block of Chevy Chase Drive and Glenoaks Boulevard, according, police Sgt. Tom Lorenz. Evacuation orders have been issued for some homes in the 500 block of Solway Street. Traffic into Chevy Chase Canyon has been closed as water-dropping helicopters attacked from above. [Updated: 3:35 p.m.: Portions of Chevy Chase and Glenoaks Canyons will be evacuated, according to the city.

Dozens of firefighters were trying to get the upper hand on a brush fire in Glendale Friday afternoon as it threatened canyon homes and wrecked havoc on nearby freeways. Evacuation orders were issued for homes in the 500 block of Solway Street. Traffic into Chevy Chase Canyon was closed as water-dropping helicopters attacked from above. [Update: As of about 4:20 p.m., the fire had grown to 75 acres, according to the city. No injuries were reported as of 4:20 p.m. and no structures had been damaged.