Baseball: Cleveland pulls out 8-7 win over Taft

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Deciding the playoff berths from the West Valley League just got a little harder after Reseda Cleveland scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Woodland Hills Taft, 8-7, on Junior Felix’s two-out, game-winning hit.

Cleveland improved to 8-18 and 2-8 in league. Taft dropped to 16-10 and 4-6. But there’s more.

According to Taft Coach Scott Osder, Cleveland officials have submitted an allegation that a freshman player recently promoted from junior varsity is ineligible because of a false address. Taft needs to investigate, and if it turns out to be true, Taft would have to forfeit Tuesday’s victory over Cleveland because the player participated in the game.

That would make Taft and Cleveland both 3-7 and leave it up it to the City seeding committee whether one or both teams get to play in the Division I playoffs. And the league race could become even more muddled depending on the outcome of Thursday night’s game between Granada Hills (2-6) and Birmingham (3-6). There could be a four-way tie for third place if Granada Hills defeats Birmingham and the forfeit stands.

In the Valley Mission League, San Fernando defeated Monroe, 6-0. David Armas was the winning pitcher and also hit a home run. San Fernando finished 16-10 and 7-3. Granada Hills Kennedy (13-12, 8-2) earned a share of the league title with an 11-1 win over Panorama. Andrew Hernandez went four for four with a double and triple.

UPDATE: Birmingham defeated Granada Hills, 4-1, behind Kevin Torres, who threw the complete game and also went three for three. Birmingham finishes at 4-6, tied for third place with Taft.

-- Eric Sondheimer