Long Beach Poly

John Paul Crawford, grandson of La Crescenta residents John and Julia Rieck, took first in his age group in the 2005 Pepsi Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit and Run competition held at Anaheim Stadium on June 25. Crawford, who plays in the East Long Beach Poly Baseball League, came in first in the 9/10-year-old division and scored high enough to advance to the National Competition to be held at the 2005 All Star Game in Detroit, Mich. later this summer. Pitch, Hit and Run is the official skills competition of MLB. The competition is designed to provide North American youth with an opportunity that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball skills.

The Crescenta Valley varsity baseball team, in snagging its fifth Pacific League crown in a row, finished out the regular season with seven consecutive victories. The Falcons took their steak into the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs when they hosted Long Beach Woodrow Wilson yesterday afternoon (Thursday) in lower bracket first round action. Results were not available at press time. CV, which improved to 21-4 overall, finished 13-2 in league by winning its last regular league contest of the season last Friday, beating visiting Arcadia, 8-1. Wilson came in third in the Moore League behind first place Lakewood and Long Beach Poly.

Charles Rich With the weather being cooperative the past few days, the Flintridge Prep boys' basketball team couldn't have picked a better destination to continue its season. The Rebels will travel to San Diego to meet San Diego Horizon at 7:30 p.m. today in a first-round game of the Southern California Regional Division IV state playoffs. Flintridge Prep (19-9) lost to L.A. Verbum Dei, 73-48, in the CIF Southern Section Division IVA championship Thursday at Loyola Marymount University's Albert Gersten Pavilion.

Whether it's during the regular season or the CIF Southern Section playoffs, expectations remain high for the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy soccer team. Summer is no exception for the Tologs, as the team uses the time frame to remain competitive. So far, the early indications seem to be working in their favor under the direction of new Coach Cesar Hidalgo. Lindsey Pierson, Miranda Saldivar, Hailey James and Lauren Savo each scored one goal Sunday to lead Flintridge Sacred Heart to a 4-0 victory against Long Beach Poly's A team in the championship game of the Travis Jackson Six Aside Tournament at the Home Depot Center Complex in Carson.

SOFTBALL Crescenta Valley 8, Temple City 1: Hannah Cookson hit two home runs to lead the Falcons (4-0) to a win in the championship game of the Duarte Tournament on Saturday. Cece Martinez, Sydney House, Delaney Gay and Jessica Morena each recorded multi-hit games. Long Beach Poly 8, Hoover 4: Briana Manzanero, Kaitlyn Williams and Kenya Buckley each went two for three for the Tornadoes in a Cypress Tournament loss on Saturday. Hoover also lost to Fullerton, 9-1, in the same tournament on Saturday.

Hamlet Nalbandyan CERRITOS -- Not that anything overly spectacular was expected, but the local boys athleteswent through a pretty disappointing experience Saturday at the CIF Southern Section Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College. Actually, they went through a very disappointing experience. Not one of the six individuals or three relay teams participating in the event had a mark good enough to advance to Saturday's CIF Masters Meet, which takes the top nine from each event from all four divisions.

Hamlet Nalbandyan NORWALK -- Janelle Del Soldato raised her fist in the air and jumped for joy for a reason after the 800 meters at the CIF Southern Section Track and Field Championships. The Crescenta Valley High senior's 2 minute 12.4-second time in the event not only put her atop the school's record books, but put her among the elite in Southern California. Del Soldato finished third in the girls' Division I race, but she could have easily been a CIF champion.

Hamlet Nalbandyan GLENDALE -- There aren't many high school football programs that can match the history and success of Loyola High. That is, not many except Long Beach Poly High. The Jackrabbits have a storied athletic tradition, especially in football, as they have won or shared the CIF Southern Section Division I title two straight years. Poly also has 13 CIF titles since the school began playing football in 1919. Loyola has won four CIF titles since its inception in 1924, but hasn't won one since 1990.

Rebels face tough league opponent The Flintridge Prep football team will look to make it two in a row in Prep League play when it meets Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep at 7:30 tonight at St. Francis High's Friedman Field. The Kares (5-1, 1-0 in league) -- ranked No. 3 in CIF Southern Section Division XIII -- are coming off a 27-22 win against Pasadena Poly, and the No. 9-ranked Rebels (2-4, 1-0) are looking to remain unbeaten following a 35-14 triumph against Claremont Webb.