Beck’s Curve and Bern’s Slam Beat Cleveland : HOLT-GOODMAN TOURNAMENT

Rodney Beck, last season’s East Valley League most valuable player, struck out 14 batters and Harlen Bern hit a grand slam Saturday as Grant High handled Cleveland, 4-1, in the first round of the Holt-Goodman baseball tournament at Granada Hills.

Cleveland (1-1), with only one returning varsity player, shortstop Bobby LaRosa, had trouble adjusting to Beck’s curve ball and managed just three hits.

Beck was never in trouble, and three Grant throwing errors failed to upset the senior right-hander.

“My attitude has changed a lot this year,” said Beck, who went the distance. “It bothered me when we made errors before. I couldn’t concentrate. I’m getting to where it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Grant (2-1) scored four in the first inning to give Beck all the runs he would need to even his record at 1-1.

Juan Guerrero singled to lead off the first inning, and Beck and Jason Peterson drew walks off Cavaliers pitcher Tony Margolis. Bern then unloaded on a 1-0 fastball for his slam to left field.

Cleveland’s only run came when LaRosa hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning.

Grant plays Hart on Monday at 2:30 p.m. in a second-round game at Cal State Northridge.

Simi Valley 3, Taft 0--In his first varsity start, Simi Valley’s Scott Sharts shut out Taft on two hits through six innings, but needed help from Shawn Murphy for the final two outs at Birmingham’s Ramirez Field.

Murphy inherited a bases-loaded situation in the top of the seventh and got Taft’s Eric Garnof to force Andy Powell at home. He struck out pitcher Colin Snider to end the game.

Murphy hit a first-inning homer and Mike Hankins had two run-scoring singles for the Pioneers (7-2), who advance to play Venice at Cal State Northridge on Monday at 11 a.m. Taft will play Monroe at Granada Hills on Monday at 2:30 p.m.

Chatsworth 8, San Pedro 3--Sophomore John Hazelbusch held the Pirates to just six hits in the game at Cal State Northridge. The Chancellors gave Hazelbusch (1-0) two runs in the first inning and never gave up the lead.

Joel Wolfe led Chatsworth (2-0) with three RBI. His line-drive single in the first inning made the score 2-0, and his two-run double in the bottom of the sixth made it 8-2. Gary McMillan was 2 for 3 for the Chancellors.