By Brandon HENSLEY

Crescenta Valley High School alum Trevor Bell was released by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on July 26 after clearing waivers.

Bell, a right-handed pitcher, had spent his 2012 season with the team’s triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees, going just 1-6 with an 8.27 earned run average in 10 appearances.

Bell graduated CV High in 2005, and was selected 37th overall by the Angels that year. He played three sporadic years in the Major League from 2009 to 2011, alternating between the Angels and the Bees.

In his time in an Angels uniform, Bell went 4-9 with a 5.21 ERA. The day of his release, Bell posted on his Twitter account:

“I would like to express my gratitude to the @angels organization for taking a young boy and turning him into a man. Im [sic] gonna miss all the friendships I have made and the struggles the guys have helped me through. I respect everyone in that organization and always will.”

Bell alternated between starting pitching and being a reliever. His first career start for the Angels was on Aug. 12 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium, which was witnessed by his family as well as his CV coach Phil Torres and former teammates and friends.

He went 5 1/3 innings that day, giving up four runs on nine hits and one walk, and struck out four batters. He received a no decision.

Bell’s first career victory came just six days later in Cleveland, when he beat the Indians, going 5 1/3 innings. He gave up three runs on nine hits and struck out two.

Bell was named Pacific League Player of the year three times while playing for the Crescenta Valley Falcons, was a three-time All-CIF first-teamer, and a two-time All-Area Baseball Player of the Year. Bell was a power hitter as well as a power pitcher with CV, hitting .367 with eight home runs, 20 runs batted in and 20 scored his senior season. As a pitcher that year, he posted a 0.97 ERA and had 113 strikeouts.

  Brandon Hensley