Pitcher

It was a banner evening for Glendale Angelenos pitcher Thomas Korn, who flirted with perfection in Wednesday evening's California Collegiate Summer League baseball game. Korn, a former Pasadena High standout, tossed 7 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before surrendering consecutive hits in an Angelenos 4-0 victory over the SoCal Halos at Stengel Field. The incoming York College of Nebraska senior struck out 10 batters before being taken out and replaced by relievers Julian Jarrard and Michael Noteware.

With last year's historic squad having won the Western State Conference before advancing all the way to the state tournament, the 2012 Glendale Community College baseball team inherited a lofty standard of success, even though it featured few holdovers from its predecessor. The Vaqueros lived up to the expectations and effectively maintained Glendale's status as a contender, as the team is currently back in the playoffs. They also brought home the program's second straight WSC South Division title and reaped the rewards when the all-conference team was released recently.

CRESCENTA VALLEY COACH: Phil Torres, 15th year. LEAGUE: Pacific LAST SEASON: 23-5, 12-2 in league for second place. Lost in first round of Division II playoffs to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 6-3. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Troy Mulcahey, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Elliott Surrey, senior, pitcher/first baseman; Kyle Murray, senior, pitcher; Troy Prasertsit, senior, outfielder; Cole Currie, junior, shortstop/pitcher; Ted Boeke, soph., shortstop/third baseman; Terry Ha, junior, outfielder; Cam Silva, senior, catcher.

CRESCENTA VALLEY COACH : Phil Torres, 10th year. LEAGUE : Pacific LAST SEASON : Went 22-5, winning the Pacific League title and advancing to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. PLAYERS TO WATCH : Dustin Emmons, senior, pitcher/infielder; Chad Nacapoy, senior, catcher; Kris Kauppila, junior, shortstop; Kam Krise, senior, pitcher/first baseman; Drew Elliott, junior, pitcher/infielder; Travis Feldman, junior, infielder/pitcher; Micah Dunham, senior, second baseman/pitcher; Chris Johnson, senior, outfielder.

Crescenta Valley is looking forward to a winning season from their boys' baseball this year, with several players returning from last year's Pacific League No. 1 squad. The team finished at 12-2 for league play under the direction of Head Coach Phil Torres. TEAM SNAPSHOT COACH: Phil Torres, 10th year. LAST SEASON: Went 22-5, winning the Pacific League title and advancing to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. PLAYERS TO WATCH: Dustin Emmons , senior, pitcher/infielder; Chad Nacapoy , senior, catcher; Kris Kauppila , junior, shortstop; Kam Krise , senior, pitcher/first baseman; Drew Elliott , junior, pitcher/infielder; Travis Feldman , junior, infielder/pitcher; Micah Dunham , senior, second baseman/pitcher; Chris Johnson , senior, outfielder.

Cory Popham and KJ Edson came to the Glendale Community College baseball team in hopes of eventually working their way to the NCAA Division I level. Both pitchers didn't take straight routes to GCC, though. Popham transferred from Occidental College and Edson was originally committed to play for the University of La Verne before switching to GCC about two weeks before the school year. Popham and Edson realized their Division-I dreams, as Popham signed his national letter of intent to play for the University of Pacific next year and Edson did the same for the University of San Francisco.

Peter Fuertes GLENDALE -- On paper, the St. Francis High baseball team looked as good as any in the area. But when you're in the Mission League, home of powerhouses such as Crespi and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame highs, the competition can be murderous, as the Golden Knights found out, finishing with an 11-11-1 overall record and 4-7-1 in league. Nonetheless, there were still outstanding performances turned in by Golden Knight individuals, and they were recognized by their league peers.

Most kids never get the chance to pitch in a youth baseball championship game. In one week last month, 12-year-old Benjamin Slyngstad pitched in two championship games and won both of them. He was the winning pitcher for the Mighty Drillers in the Crescenta Sports Association Bronco Division final played last week and on June 15 he was the winning pitcher for the Mariners in the La Canada Junior Baseball Softball Association Bronco Division title game. The feat is unique in recent memory and Slyngstad may lay claim to the title of the best 12-year-old pitcher in the Crescenta-Canada Valley He pitched more than 130 innings and struck out more than 250 batters.

The following are highlights from the 2012 season for local athletes playing Major League Baseball. ESTRADA MAKES PITCH TO BE STARTER At the onset of the 2012 season, the Milwaukee Brewers seemed to be set on using former Glendale Community College standout Marco Estrada as a long reliever/spot starter out of the bullpen. The club may have to reassess those plans going forward, as Estrada proved himself to be a more than viable option for every-fifth-day duty when he was thrust into the Brewers' rotation after returning from a stint on the disabled list due to a strained right quadriceps on June 26. Sitting at 0-3 with a 4.50 earned-run average to that point, Estrada went on to finish the season 5-7 with a 3.64 ERA, striking out 143 batters to just 29 walks.

The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level. Christian Bergman (St. Francis High, 2006) starting pitcher, Modesto Nuts: Bergman, a former All-Area Player of the Year, likely won't forget what he's accomplished this season with the Nuts, the class-A advanced affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Simply put, he's garnered impressive accolades. Bergman, who was selected as the California League Pitcher of the Year, was slated to start Wednesday's playoff game against the host San Jose Giants.

Ryan Sherriff felt an immediate psychological void. With his father no longer in the stands to watch him pitch, Sherriff lost his chief inspiration and reached what he initially perceived to be a final decision - no more baseball. Larry Sherriff had attended most of his son's games for the past decade until he died Jan. 9 at 57 from complications of multiple myeloma, or cancer of the blood. Baseball suddenly didn't seem as important to the younger Sherriff, who was a couple of months away from reporting to spring training in Florida with theSt.

The following are updates on area Major League Baseball players. Brandon McCarthy (Glendale native) starting pitcher, Oakland Athletics: After spending nearly two months on the disabled list because of a strained right shoulder, McCarthy has rounded back into form with two quality appearances. However, he's encountered some tough luck, including seeing his career-best six-game unbeaten streak come to a close Wednesday night against the host Kansas City Royals. McCarthy, a right-hander who was the Athletics' opening-day starter, is looking to keep Oakland in the hunt for one of two available wild-card spots in the American League.

The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level. Ryan Sherriff (Glendale Community College, 2011) starting pitcher, Palm Beach Cardinals: Sherriff has been a constant staple in Palm Beach's rotation since joining the St. Louis Cardinals' class-A advanced affiliate in May. Sherriff, a left-hander who also played for the Glendale Angelenos briefly during its inaugural season in 2011 after helping Glendale college reach...

NORTHRIDGE — For weeks of tournament play, it had been aggressive at the plate, efficient on the mound and sound on defense. The Crescenta Valley 9- and 10-year-old All-Star squad needed to continue the same style of play for one more day to advance to the championship game of the Section 2 Tournament. Unfortunately for the locals, its approach, especially at the plate, did not produce a win Monday. Crescenta Valley managed six hits, only two of which came after the first inning, in a 6-2 loss to Sherman Oaks, ending its season with a second-chance bracket loss at Northridge Little League Fields.

The following are updates on local baseball players at the minor league level. Ryan Sherriff (Glendale Community College, 2011) starting pitcher, Palm Beach Cardinals: Plenty has gone right throughout the season for the former Glendale Angeleno, who is thriving with the St. Louis Cardinals' class-A Advanced affiliate. Sherriff, a left-hander, was selected the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June. In four June appearances, Sherriff went 3-0 with a 1.98 earned-run average and struck out 14. Sherriff went at least six innings in each of his four starts, yielding two runs or less.

It was a banner evening for Glendale Angelenos pitcher Thomas Korn, who flirted with perfection in Wednesday evening's California Collegiate Summer League baseball game. Korn, a former Pasadena High standout, tossed 7 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before surrendering consecutive hits in an Angelenos 4-0 victory over the SoCal Halos at Stengel Field. The incoming York College of Nebraska senior struck out 10 batters before being taken out and replaced by relievers Julian Jarrard and Michael Noteware.

SOUTHWEST GLENDALE - Andres Rivera isn't afraid to look himself in the mirror. At least twice a week, Rivera will spend some time standing in front of a giant mirror in his room and work on his pitching delivery. It's played a vital role in helping the Vaquero 9-10 Baseball All-Star examine his mechanics. Rivera wasn't too shabby facing live batters in his latest outing, as he struck out 10 and allowed a pair of hits in 4 2/3 innings Thursday afternoon to help Vaquero post a 6-0 District 16 opening-round win against Tujunga at Pacific Park.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE - Another chance equaled another day for the Burbank 9-10 Softball All-Star team in the District 16 consolation bracket final. Burbank, which is made up of all-stars from the Bees and Bruins, scored in four of five innings and received a one-hitter from pitcher Lillyanna Travieso in eliminating visiting Crescenta Valley, 10-0, in five innings Saturday morning at Scholl Canyon Ball Fields. With the triumph, Burbank earned another opportunity at redemption versus unblemished Foothill, which it plays today at 12:30 p.m. back at Scholl.