SPRING : Baseball

Kennedy hit bottom in a game against arch-rival Granada Hills. The Golden Cougars made seven errors and allowed nine unearned runs in dropping an 11-10 decision to the Highlanders. It was Kennedy’s fifth loss in six league games.

But, after that, Kennedy didn’t lose another game all year. Dick Whitney’s team won its last six league games and finished one game behind Granada Hills in the Mid-Valley League. In the City semifinals against Chatsworth, Kennedy got three runs in the second inning against Chatsworth and went on to defeat the top-ranked team, 4-2.

The Golden Cougars then defeated Banning, 10-9, to capture the City 4-A championship, their second in five seasons.

Granada Hills, which won the title in 1984, saw its chances for repeating that feat wiped out by Banning in the semifinals. The Highlanders made seven errors and lost, 12-11.

Simi Valley won its first 18 games, was ranked No. 1 in the state at one point, and even scored 30 runs in a game. There was talk of a possible Southern Section championship to go along with an expected Marmonte League championship.

The Pioneers, however, did not get either title. Camarillo won the league, beating Simi Valley, 3-2, in the league final. Earlier in the season, Camarillo lost to Simi, 15-3. The Scorpions, led by Scott Cline and Charlie Fiacco, made it all the way to the 4-A final at Anaheim Stadium. Cline’s throwing error in the bottom of the sixth inning allowed Fountain Valley to score the winning run in a 3-2 decision.

Boys Swimming

When Birmingham handed El Camino Real its first loss in a league dual meet in eight years, it looked as though the Conquistadores’ seven-year reign as City champions was in jeopardy. But Bob Baldocchi would have nothing to do with that. The El Camino junior set City records in winning the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events at the City finals. He also anchored the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team, leading El Camino to title No. 8. It was the 28th straight year a Valley school won the City title.

Softball

There were new faces at El Camino Real this year but old results. The Conquistadores won their third consecutive City 4-A championship under first-year Coach Neils Ludlow.

Freshman pitcher Beth Silverman stepped in to replace Laurie Romero, last season’s City Player of the Year, and went 15-0. She was the victor in the title game, a 3-0 win over Banning. El Camino completed the season 19-0.

Three Valley teams advanced to the quarterfinals of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs, but none were around for the semifinals.

Samantha Ford’s brilliant pitching career at Hart came to a close with a 5-0 loss to Ocean View, which went on to win the title.

Newbury Park held a 2-0 lead over Westminster after five innings, but the Panthers could not hold it, losing, 4-2, to the eventual 4-A runners-up. Burroughs, with freshman pitcher Christy Alves, saw its season end with a 2-0 loss to Cypress.

Viewpoint, which entered the Small Schools playoffs top-ranked, saw its title hopes disappear with a 4-2 loss to Linfield Christian in the semifinals.

Track and Field

Kennedy came ever so close to winning the boys’ City team title. The Golden Cougars collected 42 points at the City finals, bettered only by Belmont (44) and Gardena (43). Michael Pringle paced Kennedy, winning the long jump.

Kelly Peacock of Van Nuys won two City individual crowns, the long jump and 300-meter hurdles. Peacock is only a junior.

Simi Valley enjoyed its best year ever in track, finishing second in the Southern Section 4-A Division and third in the state. Lawrence Nelson provided the school with its first state individual championship, winning the long jump. The real surprise, however, was Mark Robinson, a basketball standout who picked up high-jumping just this year. Robinson finished second in the state.

Girls Swimming

Palisades won the girls’ team title, but not without having to put up with El Camino Real’s Kristin Underwood. Underwood won the 200 and 500 freestyle events and swam the anchor leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay team.

Golf

Birmingham won the City 4-A championship in May with Gary Davidson paving the way. Davidson shot a two-day total of 154 to help the Braves capture the title.

Gymnastics

Monroe won its fifth City team championship in six years for Coach Les Sasvary. The Vikings have won 13 overall, the winningest team in City history. Two days later, Bryan Herring took first place in five of six events to capture the individual championship.

Boys Volleyball

Everything went according to plan for the Chatsworth boys’ volleyball team this season--until the City final. In that game, the 1984 City champions met up with University, which disposed of the Chancellors in three games.

Boys Tennis

Calabasas continued its domination in the boys’ ranks, capturing its third straight Southern Section 3-A team title. The Coyotes recorded a 22 1/2-5 1/2 victory over Los Altos in the final, paced by Steve Oliver and Steve Wiere.

Palisades won the City team title in Studio City, topping North Hollywood, 5-2.