HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS : Woodfin Strikes Out 16 in 2-Hitter as Sylmar Easily Defeats Fairfax

Now that Olonzo Woodfin has learned the difference between throwing and pitching, opposing teams in the East Valley League are beginning to see the difference in his confidence and control. Seeing it and hitting it, however, are two very distinct endeavors.

Woodfin, a 6-4 junior left-hander, struck out 16, surrendered two hits and one earned run as Sylmar defeated Fairfax, 8-1, in a league game at Sylmar on Thursday.

In 17 innings, Woodfin (4-0) has allowed only three hits and one run and has 41 strikeouts.

“Right now, he’s just overpowering,” Sylmar Coach John Klitsner said. “He’s throwing strikes and throwing the ball hard. He’s always had a good arm. Now he’s pitching instead of just throwing it.”

Don Kelley was 3 for 4, including a solo home run in the fourth that put Sylmar on top, 6-1, and drove in three runs for Sylmar (4-0). Sylmar had just five hits, but stole eight bases. “We like to keep the pressure on people,” Klitsner said. “We’ll double steal, play hit and run. We don’t just sit back and wait for a big inning.”

BASEBALL

Left-hander Chris Spears pitched a one-hitter to lead Crespi (3-1) to a 5-2 win over West Torrance in the consolation semifinals of the El Segundo tournament. Spears struck out 12, walked three and gave up no earned runs to raise his record to 1-1. . . . Poly (3-0) scored eight runs in the first inning and coasted to a 12-0 win over Verdugo Hills in an East Valley League game at Poly. Junior left-hander Greg Nealon threw a two-hit shutout, striking out six. . . . Eddie Velarde pitched four hitless innings, striking out six, to lead North Hollywood (2-1) to an 11-5 over Hollywood in an East Valley League game.

Senior right-hander Joe Summers (1-0) tossed a two-hitter, striking out nine, and hit a three-run homer to lead Royal to a 4-0, nonleague victory over Calabasas. . . . Tim Laker was 3 for 4 with a triple and home run and was also the winning pitcher for Simi Valley (4-1) as the Pioneers routed Gahr, 12-5, in an El Segundo tournament game. Laker (1-0) pitched the first four innings and was relieved by his brother, Mike, a junior, who recorded the save. Lead-off hitter Darren Aurand was 3 for 5 with a triple and two RBIs for Simi Valley. . . . With one out in the bottom of the seventh, left fielder Joe Cupo doubled home Greg Biley with the winning run, giving Alemany (3-1) a 4-3 win over Franklin in a Westside Tournament game.

Junior right-hander Jason Farrell (1-0) tossed a four-hitter over five innings, striking out seven, to lead Kennedy to an 8-1 Westside tournament victory over Westchester. Kennedy’s Kevin Farlow was 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. . . . Eric Niece, Rex McMackin and Joel Wolfe had three hits each for Chatsworth in an 11-4 win over Loyola in a Westside tournament game. Pierre Amado went the distance for Chatsworth (3-1), striking out seven in recording his second win of the season. . . . Relief pitcher J.R. Smith pitched the final 4 innings and earned the victory as Montclair Prep (3-1) defeated Notre Dame, 3-2, in a Westside tournament game. Senior left fielder Nathan Hill singled in the winning run in the top of the seventh inning, breaking a 2-2 tie. . . . Marc Williams (1-0) allowed just five hits while striking out five while going the distance as Oakwood defeated Providence, 4-3. Steve Sokoloff was 2 for 4 with two RBIs for Oakwood (1-0). Larry Kuklin was 2 for 3 with a triple and two RBIs for Providence (1-1). . . . Sheamus Martin was 3 for 4 with a grand slam and a triple as Bell-Jeff (1-3) defeated St. Monica, 8-2, in a Westside tournament game.

GOLF

Westlake, led by Jimmy Chang’s one-under-par 71, defeated Buena, 385-415, at the Olivas Park Golf Course in Ventura. Chang, a junior, was four under through 14 holes, but still finished with Westlake’s lowest 18-hole round of the season.

TRACK

Bryan Dameworth won the 880 (2:02.6) and two-mile (9:51.2) as Agoura defeated La Canada and Verdugo Hills in a nonleague tri-meet. Bobby Summers added a victory in the triple jump (41-8 1/2) as Agoura (2-1) scored 72 points to the 56 of La Canada and Verdugo Hills’ 30. . . . In the girls meet Jenny Whelchel’s 40-10 1/2 effort in the shot put led Agoura to a narrow victory. Jennifer Sullivan won the 880 with a 2:32.5 and Jennifer Holmwood ran a 63.7 in the 440 as Agoura (3-0) scored 67 points, followed by La Canada with 63 and Verdugo Hills with 19. . . . Royal’s April Broussard won the triple jump (34-2), long jump (17-7), 100 meters (12.8) and 110-yard low hurdles (17.1), but Royal lost to Simi Valley, 60 1/2-57 1/2, in a Marmonte League track meet.