AMERICAN LEGION PLAYOFFS : Sunset Leaves Encino South’s Chances in the Dark

Coach Craig Sherwood’s Encino South team doesn’t want to be known as the team that entered the American Legion District 20 baseball playoffs through the back door.

Encino South qualified for the double-elimination tournament at Birmingham High because Reseda-Cleveland was disqualified for using an ineligible player. On Thursday against North Hollywood, Sherwood’s team tried to eliminate any question that it belonged in postseason play.

The final answer won’t come until this morning. Encino South trailed North Hollywood, 13-8, after seven innings when the game was suspended because of darkness. The game is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. today.

“I want to win so badly, just to prove we belong,” Sherwood said. “We’re not just a bad team playing good teams.”

Encino South’s problems could have been avoided had right fielder Pat Murphy caught Doug Williams’ fly ball with two outs in the seventh inning. But Murphy dropped it, allowing Peter Straus to score.

Tim Driscoll then walked to load the bases and pitcher Tim Marquez followed with a triple to center, scoring three runs and giving North Hollywood its five-run lead.

North Hollywood Coach Ray Washington said Marquez, who pitched all seven innings Thursday, would be on the mound in the eighth.

In second-round games today, Reseda North will play Burbank, following the suspended game’s conclusion. Newhall-Saugus will play the loser of the suspended game at 1 p.m., while Woodland Hills will take on the winner of the suspended game at 4:30 p.m.

In earlier games, Woodland Hills, considered the favorite to win the tournament because of its 18-3 record, held off Burbank, 11-8, and Newhall-Saugus beat Reseda North, 6-5, on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Leading, 9-3, after six innings, Woodland Hills had to fight off a seventh-inning rally by Burbank. Coach Bill Isaacson’s Burbank team scored five runs, chasing Woodland Hills starter Mike Kerber.

But right fielder Brien Pogue saved Woodland Hills three times. His two strong throws to catcher Derek Stark caught Brian Chandler trying to score in the seventh and Ray Rodriguez in the eighth. Pogue then singled in the bottom of the eighth to give Woodland Hills a 10-8 lead.

“I expected the ball to be hit to me,” Pogue said. “I was playing a little bit in, so that made it a little easier on the arm. Our catcher did a nice job blocking the plate.”

“We played about 60% of our capability,” Woodland Hills Coach Marc Hersh said. “A win’s a win. We have been better and we will be better or it will be a tough road.”

In the tournament’s opening game, Reseda North and Newhall-Saugus were tied 4-4 going into the ninth. With two out, Reseda North’s Barry Gindelsperger walked and took second on a wild pitch. Catcher John Glantz drilled a single to right, giving his team a one-run lead.

It was short-lived. Newhall-Saugus’ Ray Palagyi singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth and scored on Gary Morgan’s double off the left-field fence. Don Pedersen was intentionally walked and, two outs later, Gene Northway reached on an error by Don Grant, loading the bases.

Reseda North pitcher Brian Clancy then walked Jay Kerschner on a 3-2 pitch to force home the winning run.