DeGrasse Strikes Out 10 as Van Nuys-Notre Dame Wins, 2-1

Tim DeGrasse struck out 10 and stifled several rallies Saturday as Van Nuys-Notre Dame edged Encino-Tarzana, 2-1, in a District 20 American Legion game at Birmingham High.

DeGrasse (5-0) allowed eight runners to reach scoring position, but stranded seven of them. Encino-Tarzana had chances to tie the score in both the eighth and ninth innings, but DeGrasse worked out of both jams to record his fifth complete game.

“I had the edge because I have so many different deliveries,” DeGrasse said. “As the game went on I got to know them better than they got to know me. I never thought about losing.”

And Van Nuys-Notre Dame Manager Jody Breedan never thought about pulling DeGrasse, who reduced his earned-run average to 1.70.

“He’s the kind of kid who’ll pitch nine innings in the first game of a doubleheader and then offer to start the second,” Breedan said. “I would have let him go 11 or 12 innings.”

Jeff Light of Encino-Tarzana also pitched a complete game, but his nine innings were bumpier than a drive on a dirt road.

Light, who will attend Stanford in the fall, retired the side in order only once and allowed six hits and eight walks. But he also pitched well in most tough situations and could have won if given more support on offense.

“I’ve thrown better in the past, but I was pleased since that was the first time I’ve thrown in two weeks,” said Light, who played at Montclair Prep.

Light’s time on the mound has been limited because of Encino-Tarzana’s strong pitching staff, but he improved his standing considerably Saturday.

“It was a pleasant surprise to see a guy battle like that for nine innings,” Encino-Tarzana assistant coach Wayne Sink said.

The loss dropped Encino-Tarzana (10-3) into second place in the Western Division, one game behind Chatsworth. Van Nuys-Notre Dame (8-4) remained in third place in the Eastern Division, two games behind front-running Glendale.

Encino-Tarzana trailed, 2-1, but had an opportunity to tie the score in the ninth when Dean Kline led off with a single and advanced to second on Frank Charles’ infield grounder. Kline then took third on a grounder by Darryl Handelsman, but was left there as Larry Hill struck out to end the game.

Encino-Tarzana scored its only run in the eighth after Damon Buford hit a two-out double off the left-field fence.

Ernie Perez followed with a walk and Jordan Cook, who is hitting .488, drove in Buford with a solid single to right. Encino-Tarzana missed a chance to tie the score when the next batter, Light, struck out to end the inning.

Van Nuys-Notre Dame squandered opportunities in the first two innings, but scored a run in the third as Kevin Milligan walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice and then came home on two wild pitches by Light.

Chris Lohman led off the seventh with a walk and scored one-out later on Milligan’s double off the fence in left-center to give Van Nuys-Notre Dame a 2-0 lead.

Van Nuys-Notre Dame looked ready to blow the game open in the eighth, loading the bases with one out. The threat ended there, however, as Encino-Tarzana turned its second double play of the game to end the inning.

Said DeGrasse: “We always squander a lot of opportunities.”

With DeGrasse pitching, they only need to take advantage of a few.