Tigers

SOUTH PASADENA - Given the type of tough competition the Crescenta Valley High girls' water polo team has played en route to a 10-1 record this season, the Falcons found themselves in an alien position Tuesday afternoon. Crescenta Valley scored five of the first six goals versus host South Pasadena in nonleague play and enjoyed a rare breather en route to an 18-3 victory over the short-handed Tigers. "Hey, this was a game just like any other," Falcons Coach Brent Danna said. "This is about making good passes, getting up on your legs and you always have to get ready to play your opponent, regardless of who it is. " Under the best of circumstances, the Division IV fifth-ranked Tigers (3-5)

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE - A light fog rolled up the hill and onto the pool deck at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy before the Tologs were set to begin their season Thursday against Westridge. The weather elements initially caught Flintridge Sacred Heart first-year Coach Carlos Ponce off guard, leaving him to wonder how his team would respond to the strange conditions. Ponce's concern immediately disappeared once the whistle blew, as Flintridge Sacred Heart enjoyed a big five-goal first quarter en route to a convincing 18-3 nonleague win. “Fog can throw your mentality off and it can be hard to get up for the game,” said Ponce, who received a match-best seven goals from Hannah Walleck and four from Kelsey Gorman.

After being released by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in late July, Trevor Bell began to explore any potential options about a return to Major League Baseball. On Monday, Bell found a suitor after he checked his cell phone messages. Bell, a former Crescenta Valley High star and All-Area Baseball Player of the Year selection, signed a minor league free agent deal with the Detroit Tigers, who advanced to the World Series this past season against the San Francisco Giants, on Tuesday.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE - There's plenty of motivation this season for Marel Tavatian. Before embarking on helping the Westridge tennis team try to win a second straight Prep League championship, the No. 1 singles player spent time working on her conditioning. It's helped make a difference during the early portion of the season. Tavatian's work on the court has been impressive as a result. “I've been working on my fitness, and it's helped me improve being quicker,” said Tavatian, who swept her three sets without losing a game Wednesday afternoon in Westridge's 18-0 league win against rival Flintridge Prep at Scholl Canyon Tennis Center.

SOUTH PASADENA - A week after a “terrible” loss, the South Pasadena High football team was eager to redeem itself. Glendale High stood in its way Friday night. Unlike its humbling performance against Hoover a week earlier, South Pasadena ran over the Nitros, using a speedy running back and a pounding fullback to run away with a 39-7 nonleague victory. “We hated that [33-28] loss to Hoover,” said South Pasadena senior running back Nathan Lee, who rushed 16 times for 178 yards, including a pair of touchdowns, which matched teammate Rudy Murillo's number of scores from the backfield.

PASADENA - There aren't many worries when the singles players on the Westridge tennis team step on to the court. Maral Tavatian, Lena Tavatian and Erin McDonald each bring experience and composure, something that's given the rest of the Tigers assurance that they have a legitimate opportunity to win the majority of their matches. It proved to be the case once again Monday afternoon, when Westridge met visiting Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in a nonleague match at Muir High.

SOUTH PASADENA - In a game dominated inside by the South Pasadena High girls' basketball team, the outcome was ultimately clinched by a clutch three-pointer that held off a valiant comeback attempt by Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. The Tigers led by double-digits in the second half before the Tologs came within a basket late, only to give up an open three-point basket to South Pasadena's Amber Partida with 1:30 remaining in a 37-31 win for the Tigers in the South Pasadena summer league on Monday.

SOUTH PASADENA - Preny Sarkissian and Nairi Sevajian did their best in the second half Monday to keep the Hoover High girls' basketball team in the game against Ramona Convent. In a South Pasadena Summer League contest, Sarkissian made three three-pointers in the second 20-minute period and Sevejian grabbed seven rebounds in the stanza to help the Tornadoes battle back and tie the score in the final minutes against the Tigers. However, the work of the duo wasn't enough to lift Hoover to victory, as the Tornadoes weren't able to convert their free throws late in the game and that helped Ramona Convent hold on for a 21-19 win. The Tornadoes made just one of nine free-throw attempts in the second half.