{"url":"https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-20190303-story.html","title":"Childhood rivals turn teammates at Harvard-Westlake","domain":"latimes.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/8785991/pexels-photo-8785991.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"high school baseball players","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"028e58ec","id":"028e58ec-8d94-4645-93d4-156f59ade5fe","description":"Drew Bowser and Pete Crow-Armstrong went from 7-year-old Little League rivals to friends and teammates at Harvard-Westlake High.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Drew Bowser and Pete Crow-Armstrong went from 7-year-old Little League rivals to friends and teammates at Harvard-Westlake High.\n- Bowser, a Stanford commit, bats .318 as shortstop; Crow-Armstrong, Vanderbilt commit, leads with .542 average as outfielder.\n- Their banter and competition push both toward pro baseball potential while strengthening their bond.\n\n## The story at a glance\nEric Sondheimer's column profiles juniors Drew Bowser and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who started as rivals in Sherman Oaks and Encino Little Leagues before teaming up at Harvard-Westlake. Bowser hit the first home run off Crow-Armstrong's pitch at age 7, but they became friends on a travel team at 12 and now excel together under coach Jared Halpert. It's reported now as their team enters Mission League play at 6-1 and ranked No. 2 in the Southland.\n\n## Key points\n- First meeting: At 7, Crow-Armstrong pitched a fastball that Bowser crushed for his first home run ever, starting a four-year rivalry.\n- Transition to teammates: Joined same travel team at 12, then Harvard-Westlake as freshmen; Crow-Armstrong forgave the homer by freshman year.\n- Bowser profile: 6-3, 205-pound shortstop with power, committed to Stanford, batting .318.\n- Crow-Armstrong profile: 6-1, 175-pound leadoff hitter, class of 2020 top prospect with speed and arm, .542 average, 2017 USA 15U gold medalist.\n- Coach Halpert: Calls them two best athletes he's coached, polar opposites—Crow-Armstrong \"100 mph\" energy, Bowser calm—with constant banter and respect.\n- Family tie-in: Mothers Yvette Lee Bowser (TV producer, wrote \"Black-ish\" episode featuring son's homer) and Ashley Crow (actress in \"Heroes\") are friends and baseball fans.\n\n## Details and context\nThe two pushed each other from foes to allies, with Crow-Armstrong posting Bowser's childhood homer photo as a birthday shout-out. Their dynamic fits Harvard-Westlake's strong start, entering league play ranked high after seven games. Both have major-league profiles—Bowser's bat pop and size, Crow-Armstrong's all-around tools—hinting at pro futures. The story notes their tale could make a movie, given moms' Hollywood backgrounds.\n\n## Key quotes\n- “I didn’t know who he was. I went up there, he threw a fastball, and I hit it.” — Drew Bowser on their first matchup.[[1]](https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-20190303-story.html)\n- “I think they’re two of the best athletes I’ve ever had... they’re almost polar opposites in who they are.” — Coach Jared Halpert.[[1]](https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-20190303-story.html)\n\n## Why it matters\nRivalries in youth sports can build lasting friendships and drive elite performance, as seen in these prospects' paths. Local fans and recruits get a model of healthy competition boosting skills toward college ball. Watch their Mission League run and national team impacts for signs of MLB drafts ahead.","hashtags":["#highschool","#baseball","#california","#youth","#sports","#recruiting"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-sp-high-schools-20190303-story.html","title":"Original article"}],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-08T01:12:58.274Z"}