CANYON PLAYER MAKING HIS MARK AS STARTER.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

After spending most of the season on the bench as a junior at Canyon High last year - even though his father, Chuck Crim, was his baseball coach - Cody Crim is making up for lost time.

During a spring tournament in Las Vegas this past week, Crim hit two home runs over five games and turned in a dominating performance in his first start as a pitcher Saturday. He also helped Canyon win a relay competition during a skills test - firing balls from the outfield wall to shortstop Tim Anderson, who then fired home as a stopwatch clicked.

With renewed confidence and increased enthusiasm, Crim is a key player to watch during Foothill League competition, which resumes at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday with a game between the first-place Cowboys (6-5, 3-0) and second-place Valencia (6-7, 2-1).

Crim swears he harbored no resentment last year even though he was limited to fewer than 20 at-bats - on a fifth-place team - because he couldn't break into the starting lineup.

``I had Drew Peterson playing in front of me, and he was an All-CIF center fielder, but that just gave me time to practice,'' Crim said. ``The best players are going to play, and I knew I wasn't going to be out there just because I was related to the coach. I still worked hard every day last year, but I can tell you now, playing definitely beats sitting.''

Crim struck out nine in five innings and hit a two-run home run to put Canyon ahead to stay in a 4-3 victory over Littleton, Colo., on Saturday.

His father, a former major-league pitcher, undoubtedly was beaming from ear to ear.

``Cody pitched outstanding, really outstanding,'' coach Crim said. ``It was his first start and he did a fantastic job.''

--Valencia High football quarterback Michael Herrick, a junior who's on pace to break the state career passing yardage record, has received a scholarship offer from Mississippi.

``It's just his first offer. Hopefully, there will be a lot more to come,'' Valencia coach Larry Muir said.

--With Canyon returning home from Las Vegas, those in Foothill League circles should be reminded of a casino-night fundraising event for Golden Valley High's football team at a private residence this Saturday.

The event begins at 7 p.m., and among the prizes are two round-trip air tickets to any destination in the U.S. or Mexico. Admission is $45. Contact Sandy Lazaros: [phone] or [phone].

Canyon High's football team also has a fundraiser on the same night at a private residence beginning at 6 p.m. (cocktails), with a dinner slated for 7 p.m. Among the prizes on auction is a pair of tickets - with limousine transportation - to the finale of ``American Idol.''

For information, contact Francie Hawkins: [phone].

--A local boxing show featuring participants from the the Santa Clarita Community Center program is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 10 at the center. A radio station is promoting the event, and prizes will be given out throughout the day. Admission is $5, which includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win a television and DVD player.

For information, contact Gilbert Amaro: [phone].

--Keep an eye on baseball pitcher Chris Reed. The freshman from West Ranch High threw a no-hitter in a recent victory over Chaminade of West Hills - the first no-hitter ever at the first-year school. The performance lowered his ERA to 0.89.

-- Dana Rattler, a promising track and field freshman for College of the Canyons' women's team, set a school record in the heptathlon during a recent meet in Chula Vista. Rattler, a graduate of Cleveland High of Reseda, qualified for the California State Championships in May.

--And finally, high school sports jerseys should include the name of the school, not the school nickname. For me, Hart is Hart and Valencia is Valencia, for instance, and not the Indians and Vikings.

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Valencia High quarterback Michael Herrick received a scholarship offer from Mississippi.

Joel Lugavere/Special to the Daily News