HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS : BABE HERMAN : Kennedy Defeats Buena, 6-5, as Coach Inspires a Crusade

Kennedy High won two battles Tuesday night, although one was more significant than the other.

Kennedy Coach Dick Whitney underwent exploratory surgery Tuesday afternoon for possible cancer of the lymph nodes, but the results were negative.

“This one was for Whit,” interim Coach Scott Drootin said after Kennedy defeated Buena, 6-5, in the championship semifinals of the Babe Herman tournament.

“He battled for us and we battled for him tonight,” he said.

Kennedy (4-0) will play Redondo tonight at 7 in the championship game at Stengel Field in Glendale.

Kennedy led, 6-0, going into the bottom of the fifth, scoring three times in the first, once in the second and twice more in the fifth.

Buena couldn’t mount an attack on Kennedy pitcher Eric Evans. Evans faltered in the fifth, however, exiting with the bases loaded and no outs.

The Bulldogs rallied off reliever Al Mayhew to score all three runners and close the margin to 6-3.

Buena came back strong again in the sixth, scoring two runs.

Kennedy’s Jamie Ponce came in to get the last out with the bases loaded.

“Tell Whit to move over,” a bewildered Drootin said after the game. “I’m moving into the hospital with him.”

Buena (6-3) plays Redondo today at 1 p.m. for third place.