Local Baseball All-Stars Qualify For PONY World Series

The West Hills Bronco baseball team, pooling from the Calabasas area, has qualified for the PONY World Series (12-under) in Monterey beginning on Thursday after qualifying with a 5-4 win over Temecula in the Zone championship Monday in Whittier.

West Hills eliminated Temecula by scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Matt Cassin’s grounder scored Dylan Schlopy from third base. Dane Reed pitched four innings of relief for the win, as the locals improved to 16-1 overall.

“It’s been a real team effort,” assistant Brian West said. “We’ve had several different pitchers and several players who’ve hit home runs, and we’ve been very good defensively.”

Among West Hills’ top players is Shai Filous, a power-hitting third baseman.

“He’s come up with a big hit every time we’ve needed it,” West said.

The manager is Kelly Hankin, and the assistants are West and Bo Weinberg.

Some of the key pitchers are Reed, Cassin and Jeremy Polon.

Schlopy is a cousin of Taylor Schlopy, a former Oaks Christian High softball standout who is now playing professional softball.

The team includes a girl, Charley Kuizin-Ingelson, and the other players are Andrew Pang, Andrew West, Chris Dehn, Danny Greenfield, Grant Necha, Jake Selco and Reece Weinberg.

YOUNG CALABASAS SHOT PUTTER IS BIG SHOT

Remember the name Kushaal Tadepalli, a youngster from Calabasas who won the boys’ national shot put championship Friday at the 45^th annual USA Track & Field Junior Olympics in Wichita, Kansas, for the midget division (11- and 12-year-olds).

Tadepalli, a 12-year-old student at switched from the glid to the pin on his fifth throw, and the result was a winning effort of 48 feet, 11 ¾ inches – a three-foot improvement over his personal-best.

"I felt really good," Tadepalli said. "When I came here, I just felt like I was going to do really well."

Although Tadepalli's mark was the best throw by more than two feet, he wasn't sure if it would hold up for the win.

"I thought another competitor would match my mark at least, but fortunately for me, they didn't," he said.

On the hill above the shot put ring, Tadepalli had a small cheering section urging him on.

"My dad and sister were there, and the rest of my team," Tadepalli said. "It really encouraged me to do my best."

The USATF Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships is the most visible youth athletic development program in the world. Many of today's Olympic stars began their track and field careers competing in the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships.

Entry for this championship is based on athlete performances at preliminary, Association, and Regional levels of the Junior Olympic Program. Competition takes place in six two-year age divisions, with athletes generally falling between the ages of eight and 18.

NEW ARRIVALS FROM MONTCLAIR PREP EXPECTED FOR VIEWPOINT FOOTBALL TEAM

In the wake of Montclair Prep High canceling its athletic program, three football juniors are in the process of enrolling at , according to Viewpoint head coach Chris Adamson.

“I can’t really put their names out until it’s official, but they’re all skill-position players, they’re all impact players, and one is the son of a former NFL player,” Adamson said. “Four came over, and one didn’t get accepted, but the other three, I think they have a good chance. We could really use them because we have pretty skill players, but they all go both ways on offense and defense. These three Montclair kids, I think all of them will eventually start for us somewhere on the field.”

In other Viewpoint news, three senior team captains have been named – quarterback Joey Verhaugh, receiver/defensive back Amir Karian and running back/defensive end Austin Tesoriero.

This past weekend, Verhaugh participated in a quarterback camp in San Diego with noted private coach Steve Clarkson.

“He did pretty well, from what I understand,” Adamson said.