Just got back to the office here. I know TomS is going to be upset that I couldn’t make it to the Calvary Chapel-Maranatha baseball game, but believe me when I say that I tried. In fact, I was really looking forward to watching Dylan Covey pitch. It’s 8:03 p.m. as I’m writing this and I haven’t even gotten started on my Pasadena-Arcadia baseball story. Anyway, Arcadia clinched at least a share of the Pacific League title after beating Pasadena, 5-1, on Tuesday afternoon at Arcadia High. It is the Apaches’ first league title since 2003 when Mike Parisi was coaching Arcadia. It was a stale game for the most part, but there were some good moments. Case in point was Arcadia’s Garret Tuck. He pitched five strong innings and allowed one run on four hits to earn the victory. A.J. Smouse pitched two scoreless innings to record the save. Then there was the amazing catch in right center by Pat Carroll. Chris Klein came to the plate with Nathan Bernstein at third and Ives Brown at first. On a 2-1 pitch Klein sent a shot to near center field. Carroll raced from left and extended his arm out to make the catch that had it been dropped surely would have cleared the bases to give Pasadena a 2-1 lead with just one out. Then in the sixth, Huntzinger made a diving catch to steal Bernstein of a double. “They tie the game with that,” said Arcadia coach Nick Lemas of Klein’s hit that was caught by Carroll. “Then they can take the lead and still be hitting and that changes the momentum. That was a phenomenal catch. (Carroll) had to run back … It was just amazing; I’ve seen Jim Edmonds make that play. That was a high-class play and Huntzinger has been doing that all year long.” Pirisi knew how big that catch was for Arcadia. “Carroll made a great catch and that could have put us right there and put a lot of pressure on Arcadia. This is a game of inches and it didn’t quite work out.” Arcadia can clinch the title outright with a win over Crescenta Valley. If CV beats Arcadia and Burroughs beats Burbank, that would put both teams with the same amount of losses but the Apaches get the first seed from the Pacific League because they own the tiebreaker over Burroughs. Still, there’s no way Arcadia wants to share the league title.

Temple City now holds the No. 3 spot in the Rio Hondo League after beating La Canada, 4-0. San Marino beat South Pasadena as well. The Rams have a favorable schedule since they close the season vs. Blair while the Spartans have to play a tough San Marino team. I don’t think a team from the Rio Hondo League will be awarded an at-large berth, so whoever loses on Thursday will be out of the playoffs.

La Salle baseball coach Harry Agajanian has been suspended for the rest of the season for what La Salle High is calling a violation of school policy.

“Coach Harry (Agajanian) is suspended as head coach of La Salle’s varsity baseball team until further notice for violation of school policy,” La Salle athletic director John Matheus said.

“Unfortunately, the administration just felt that we had to take action and we will discuss it further at the end of the season regarding next year.”

Without going into all the details, school officials can confirm that Agajanian’s suspension stems from a players refusal not to play in a game against Cantwell Sacred Heart. Agajanian sent that player to the bus after his refusal to play, and words were later exchanged. School officials met, and felt a suspension was warranted.

La Salle has two games left beginning today at home vs. Bishop Amat. They finish Friday at Bishop Amat. Assistant coach Junior Montes will take over as coach for what’s left of the rest of the season. Agajanian, who has coached the Lancers the last four seasons, could not be reached for comment. He’s expected to have a meeting with the principal today to discuss his future at La Salle.

Note: Please do not leave comments detailing what unfolded or which player was involved, those comments will be removed.

MaxPreps.com is reporting Joe Montana is joining the Oaks Christian football coaching staff. The staff already includes 19-year NFL veteran Clay Matthews, Bob Richards and Bob Bates, two former California coaches of the year, and former University of Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen, the older brother of Jimmy. “Our coaching staff is second to none,” Oaks Christian coach Bill Redell said. “It is a very experienced staff and the average age of our staff is 65. Nobody cares who gets the credit because by the time the game ends, none of us can remember who should get the credit.” Montana, who, according to Redell, will be in the press box. The move has brought about a change in the head coach’s philosophy. “We have a policy where we don’t want fathers coaching their kids,” Redell said. “But we made an exception. So the new rule is, if you’ve been a three-time Super Bowl MVP, you can come out and coach your kid.”

Must be nice.

Funny line from our Eastside brother, Joe Amat: Coach Redelll used to have a rule that fathers couldn’t coach their sons… but had to amend it to “… unless you’ve made a Pro Bowl, Hall of Fame or Super Bowl MVP!”

Muir and Oaks Christian play in Week 3. How you likin’ that, Stang Fan?

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The CIF Southern Section Division IV preliminary swimming heats scheduled for Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach on Tuesday have been moved. The meet will now take place Tuesday at Mt. SAC. Event and race times are still the same with the first race scheduled to get underway at noon. The change in venue was necessitated by a failure of the Belmont Plaza pools pump system. The repair of that pump system may require that additional days beyond tomorrow also move to Mt. SAC. The CIF-SS swimming office will make that determination Tuesday after consulting with management at Belmont Plaza Pool and a release will be sent out once that decision has been made. We’ll keep you posted. Click here for heat sheets and all other CIF Prelims/Finals information.

The Alpha League, the Almont League and the Rio Hondo League titles area all up for grabs. Maranatha will host Calvary Chapel on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Alhambra is at Montebello on Tuesday and needs to win. Monrovia is at Blair on Tuesday, and that should be a win for the Wildcats but I don’t think they can clinch if San Marino beats South Pasadena which also play on Tuesday at SPHS. Monrovia, I think, can clinch with a win at South Pasadena on Thursday. Temple City and La Canada are battling for the league’s final playoff spot. The Rams need to win to keep their hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Pacific League’s fourth spot is up for grabs. Assuming Arcadia beats Pasadena on Tuesday, the Bulldogs need to beat Muir on Friday and hope the Apaches beat CV on Friday night at 7. All indications point to my being at both games. Anyone else missing?