Bits and pieces from the local sports scene.
Player among 24 national finalists in competition: Burbank resident Erin Lashkari is headed to the 2011 MLB All-Star Game in Phoenix.
Lashkari, who plays for the Skittles in the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services Department Ponytail Softball league, will be representing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the 2011 Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition. She will be taking part in the Girls 9-10 Division.
For a second year, a nationwide Girls Softball Division was part of the program which allowed girls to compete and advance separately from the boys throughout the competition. The remaining boys and girls will compete at the national finals — the official youth skills competition of MLB — during MLB All-Star week. The competition will take place July 11 as part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day.
More than 600,000 youth participated in over 4,000 competitions that took place across North America.
Pitch, Hit & Run invites youth to demonstrate their skills by competing in pitching, hitting and running competitions. PHR participants can advance through four levels of competition, beginning at the local level, which can be hosted by organizations, leagues or volunteers within a community, and continuing through sectional and team competitions.
All 30 MLB clubs hosted team championships at their ballparks on weekends from May 28 through June 26. The top three competitors nationwide from each age group (7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14) advanced to the national finals.
Lashkari won a competition in Burbank and advanced to other events in Lancaster and at Angel Stadium.
In addition to the Aquafina Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run National Finals, the 24 finalists will make a special trip to MLB All-Star FanFest, an interactive baseball theme park and the largest baseball fan event in the world.
Seven area players get invites for VIBL All-Star Game: Four players from Burbank High and three from Burroughs have earned their way on the Valley Invitational Baseball League All-Star roster.
The game will take place at 1 p.m. today at Harvard-Westlake's home field at the Mid-Valley complex.
For the Bulldogs, catcher Paul Frias, shortstop Dylan Mersola, pitcher/utility Andrew Hernandez and outfielder Ricky Perez were chosen.
They will be joined by Indians designated hitter Christian Garia, pitcher Dylan Goldsack and outfielder Stewart Alexander.
