Dolphin Squads Take City, League Honors

Baseball

  He may only be a sophomore, but Palisades High outfielder Sam Wasserman is quickly becoming one accomplished Dolphin: he was named co-MVP of the Western League (sharing the award with Westchester senior Robert Gsellman) and was one of 15 hitters to be named to the All-City first team.   PaliHi senior pitcher Dylan Jeffers also received All-City honors by making the second team; in addition, he received the Western League’s Pitcher of the Year award.   Also named to the league first team were seniors Phillip Joseph (first base) and Chase Holmes (outfield), juniors Cary Jacobson (catcher) and Jason Barnett (outfield) and sophomores Harrison Simon (pitcher) and Spencer Simon (infield/outfield). Sophomore Elliot Barzilli (shortstop) and senior Nick Poulos (pitcher) made the second team.   The Dolphins (16-13, 11-1 in league) won their eighth consecutive Western League title and lost in the first round of the City playoffs at San Fernando, 11-5.   Interestingly, San Fernando knocked off Kennedy, El Camino Real and Chatsworth to win the City championship. Tigers senior Jose Reyes, who pitched a complete game in the opening round victory over Pali, went the distance again in the 8-6 final win. San Fernando junior third basemen William Vazquez also was selected as the City Section Player of the Year.

Volleyball

  After dominating the Western League with a 12-0 record, the Palisades High volleyball team fittingly dominated the postseason awards, as well.   Senior setter Jack Scharf was named the Western League’s Player of the Year and five other Dolphins received first team league honors: senior Denton Van Duzer, juniors Chance Earnest, Alex Frapech and Conor Nasch and sophomore Grant Pugatch. Senior Isaac Margulies made the league second team.   Scharf and Van Duzer were named to the All-City first team, while Earnest and Margulies received City second team honors. Meanwhile, Ryan Sikorsky of Granada Hills won the City Player of the Year.   The Dolphins (28-11-2) lost in the City finals to Granada and graduate four seniors: Margulies, Scharf, Van Duzer and Jayant Subrahmanyam.

Softball

  After winning the Western League and advancing to the City Invitational quarterfinals, the Palisades High softball team also received numerous postseason honors.   For starters, sophomore pitcher Alexis Muir was named the Western League Player of the Year and made the All-City first team. Freshman Taleigh Williams and junior Selma Cortez each made the City’s second team, while both received first team league honors.   Also receiving Western League honors were sophomores Amber Flores (a first team selection) and Jenna Paul, Prudence Brando and Shannon Dunn (second team). Head coach Ray Marsden’s team only graduates one senior, Tara Farahdel, who was voted team captain and received Academic All-City honors. In addition, coach Mystic Thompson’s JV team won the Western League title with a 16-0 overall record.