Top Baseball Pitcher Transfers to Harvard-Westlake

Harvard-Westlake High’s baseball program already was expected to be the San Fernando Valley’s top program this coming spring, and now the Wolverines have received a big boost, as touted left-handed pitcher Max Fried has transferred from Montclair Prep, which dropped its athletic program.

Fried teams with hard-throwing Lucas Giolito, an All-American, to give Harvard-Westlake one of top pitching duos in a long time. Both are headed to UCLA on baseball scholarships.

"The decision by [Montclair Prep] to cancel the sports program there was a shock to me and my family," Fried said in a statement. "I was looking forward to having a great senior year there.

"Because both school and sports are important to me, I decided to explore the opportunity to pursue both at another school. Harvard-Westlake represents the best balance of academics and athletics, and I am excited to begin my senior year there."

As juniors, Fried was 7-3 with a 1.31 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 69 innings, and he batted .360 with four home runs and 30 RBIs, while Giolito, who is 6-foot-6 and throws 94 mph, was 9-1 with a 1.00 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 70 innings.

“I think they’re going to be pretty good together,” Montclair Prep coach Rick Weber said. “I can’t ever remember a better one-two pitching combo in the Valley. I think Max will fit in well at Harvard-Westlake because he is friends with a few of those kids. I think it will be nice.”

EHRLICH LIVING THE LIFE

Adam Ehrlich, the first Campbell Hall grad to sign a Major League Baseball contract after agreeing to terms with the St. Cardinals this summer, was reunited with high school coach Juan Velazquez this past week at training camp in Jupiter, Fla.

“Adam is having fun. He’s getting bigger, stronger and faster,” said Velazquez, who was taking a family vacation in Florida. “He’s having a good summer, and he is getting used to catching 90-plus mph fastball. It’s a little different than high school because  just about everyone on the team throws 90-plus.”

Ehrlich is batting .237 with one home and six RBIs in 59 at-bats with eight games remaining.

“Obviously, it’s a little different out here because everyone is good enough to be a pro,” Ehrlich said. “But I’m enjoying it, very much so, just adjusting to the speed of the game.”

Ehrlich returns home at the end of the month.

“He’s looking forward to his full season of pro baseball,” Velazquez said.

Velazquez said the Florida humidity is something that’s hard to get used to.

“It feels like it’s 120 degrees in the shade,” Velazquez said.

Added Ehrlich: “It’s pretty hot. It’s not my favorite weather, but it’s all good. You’ve just got to deal with it.”

AARON LIBERMAN UPDATE

Valley Torah grad Aaron Liberman, a 6-foot-9 former basketball standout, is racking up airline mileage points this summer. He just returned from Poland, where he visited relatives, and he has plans to nine months in Israel beginning in September.

He also wants to continue playing basketball.

“Poland was pretty cool. We were checking our family heritage, and I found out my great, great grandfather was 6-foot-6,” Liberman said. “In Israel, I’m going to do some weight training with a coach who was an Olympic weight lifter, and I want to get stronger. I’m going to miss L.A. a little bit, but a lot of my friends will be in Israel, too.”

WAITING GAME

Campbell Hall’s boys basketball team is taking a summer break before school starts on Sept. 1, though some of the players are showing up for voluntary skill workouts, coach Steve Wachs said.

“The kids are excited about getting back into the gym. They’re looking forward to having everyone together again,” Wachs said.