CANYON'S WELCH SPOTTED IN FRANCE.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

It's a small world, and Canyon High football coach Harry Welch can prove it.

While traveling in France a couple of weeks ago, he was hiking through the Pyrennes mountains when a former player recognized him.

``I'm out there carrying a baguette,'' Welsh said, ``and people were talking French and Spanish and all different languages, and all of sudden a man sees my Canyon Cowboys shirt and says, 'Hey, aren't you Harry Welch?' I couldn't believe it.''

It was a long hike up a four-mile path, and Welch said he's since forgotten the former Hart player's name because of the high altitude and conditions of the chance encounter.

``He was a handsome man named Matt who said he played defensive line for Hart in the mid-'90s,'' Welch said.

--Canyon graduates Dejon Negron and Justin Williams have joined the Glendale College football team. Both were All-Southern Section selections last season and figure to challenge for starting positions this season - Negron at receiver and Williams at running back.

Another former Canyon grad already at Glendale, receiver Tim Naillieux, is expected to miss his sophomore season because of a knee injury.

--Jason Lance, a former Valencia High tight end who was one of the few sophomore starters on College of the Canyons' football team this season who hasn't received a scholarship to a four-year school, plans to play for San Jose State as a recruited walk-on.

If Lance gains some playing time, he figures he'll eventually be granted a scholarship.

``I'm pretty excited,'' he said. ``I can't wait to get up there.''

--T.J. May, a Valencia linebacker, is known for having one of the coolest cars on campus: a customized 1970 Chevy Chevelle that churns out 300 horsepower.

May has some power of his own, setting the school weightlifting record for his weight class (171-190 pounds) with a mark of 475 pounds in the squat. He also bench presses 275 pounds.

--A lot of people probably think former Hart baseball standout Tyler Fick is crazy for throwing away a Cal State Northridge scholarship to play JC baseball at Cuesta College on the Central Coast. Fick has his reasons.

``One of the biggest reasons is I just wanted to be farther away from home,'' Fick said. ``Plus, CSUN has come in last place two years in a row (in the Big West Conference). The coach at Cuesta is really excited because I'm going to be the team's only left-handed pitcher.''

He also will have an opportunity to play professionally much sooner. Players who join a Division I university must wait three years before being drafted, but Fick can turn pro after one season if he impresses scouts with a productive freshman year.

``That wasn't really part of the reason, but yes, it's a bonus,'' Fick said.

--Don't feel sorry for Burbank High's football team, which has graduated three-year starting quarterback Mike McDonald, the school's all-time leading passer. He signed with UNLV.

``We've had a fantastic summer,'' Burbank coach Greg Sobiech said. ``This is going to be our last year in the Foothill League, and I think we're going to surprise some people. We've got more talent this year than we had last year, and our new quarterback, Jason Barbic, is going to be very good.''

Barbic, a converted running back/defensive back, lacks experience, but he's a very good athlete with a strong arm.

``I have always believed that you put your best athlete at (quarterback), and Jason is clearly that kid,'' Sobiech said. ``He's not as tall as McDonald, but he throws equally as well. He's got quite an arm.''

Sobiech also is excited about new running back Marcus Hood, a junior who was forced to play on the junior-varsity team last year because of transfer restrictions after arriving from Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks.

``Marcus Hood can really play.'' Sobiech said. ``We also have Jason McNeill back, which gives us two very talented running backs. We're going to play both at the time, and that's going to create problems for our opponents.''