Childhood rivals turn teammates at Harvard-Westlake
Source: latimes.com
TL;DR
- Drew Bowser and Pete Crow-Armstrong went from 7-year-old Little League rivals to friends and teammates at Harvard-Westlake High.
- Bowser, a Stanford commit, bats .318 as shortstop; Crow-Armstrong, Vanderbilt commit, leads with .542 average as outfielder.
- Their banter and competition push both toward pro baseball potential while strengthening their bond.
The story at a glance
Eric 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.
Key points
- First meeting: At 7, Crow-Armstrong pitched a fastball that Bowser crushed for his first home run ever, starting a four-year rivalry.
- Transition to teammates: Joined same travel team at 12, then Harvard-Westlake as freshmen; Crow-Armstrong forgave the homer by freshman year.
- Bowser profile: 6-3, 205-pound shortstop with power, committed to Stanford, batting .318.
- 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.
- Coach Halpert: Calls them two best athletes he's coached, polar opposites—Crow-Armstrong "100 mph" energy, Bowser calm—with constant banter and respect.
- 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.
Details and context
The 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.
Key quotes
- “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)
- “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)
Why it matters
Rivalries 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.