Vaqueros

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.

There's one thing the Glendale Community College women's tennis team won't be lacking this upcoming season - experience. Glendale college Coach Bob Donaghy said he's eager to find out how the Vaqueros harness it in their attempt to battle for a possible playoff spot, something they last achieved in 1999. "There's a lot of experience and that's good to have," said Donaghy, whose team will begin its season with a nonconference home match against College of the Sequoias at noon Thursday.

GLENDALE — With no game scheduled over the past weekend, the Glendale Community College football team is in the middle of a much-needed two week stretch to recharge, reassess and heal its wounds, both physical and psychological, from a difficult 0-6 start to the season. And, while the challenges and pitfalls have been numerous for the Vaqueros over the first six weeks of the season, sophomore quarterback Steven Batista's comments indicate the team won't be taking a defeatist attitude into the final four.

COSTA MESA - Long before the ninth inning rolled around, the Glendale Community College baseball team's fate had been sealed. Each crushing hit allowed set the Vaqueros a step backward. And enough had accumulated early to dismiss any notion of another comeback victory Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the California Community College Athletic Assn.'s Super Regional tournament. But even as Glendale had time to ponder the inevitable, it did little to offset the emotion and dejected look on the Vaqueros as they trudged back to the dugout following a 16-1 rout, amid a backdrop of Orange Coast players charging the mound in celebration.

SOUTHWEST GLENDALE — The Foothill and Vaquero 9-10 All-Star teams both came into Saturday's District 16 All-Star Tournament game looking for a bounce-back performance after losing the day before. Both teams got just that, but of course, only one team could walk away victorious. Vaquero did just that, defeating Foothill, 4-1, after a three-run bottom of the fifth inning at Pacific Park on Saturday. The win puts Vaquero in competition against Tujunga at the Tujunga Little League Fields Monday at 7:30 p.m. "We lost yesterday and I told them we have to toughen up for today and do the best that we can," said Vaquero Coach Luis Cejudo.

SOUTHEAST GLENDALE - The Glendale YMCA Quarterback Club, in its 69th year, meets Tuesdays at the Elk's Lodge. The following are odds and ends from the seventh meeting of the year. VAQS MIGHT REGAIN SIGNAL CALLER While Glendale Community College continues to search for its first win, it might have starting quarterback Kevin Hunter under center for the first time since Sept. 24 when the Vaqueros travel to Santa Barbara City College for a Pacific Conference American Division contest at 6 p.m. Saturday.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — A lack of turnovers helped the Glendale Community College men's basketball team climb to the top of the Western State Conference's Southern Division. The Vaqueros entered Wednesday night's division home game against Santa Monica City College tied for first place with defending division-champion Citrus College and College of the Canyons. Unfortunately for Glendale, turnovers proved to be a sticking point. Glendale committed 22 turnovers en route to a 79-75 defeat.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — With solid pitching and early offense leading the way in both games, the Glendale Community College softball team had leads down the stretch of both halves of its Western State Conference doubleheader against visiting Bakersfield College on Thursday. But twice, the Vaqueros came up short in protecting those leads, as the Renegades rallied for a pair of comeback wins, 6-1, and 5-4. "It's the same old thing, it's mistakes," said Glendale Coach Dave "Hawk" Wilder, whose team fell to 10-20 and 5-6 in conference.