AMERICAN LEGION PLAYOFFS : Newhall-Saugus Storms Back, but Loses, 13-12

Newhall-Saugus came from behind to catch Glendale on Friday in the third round of the American Legion baseball playoffs, only to lose in the bottom of the ninth inning.

A double to left center field by Julio Carballo scored Greg Zaun from second with the winning run as Glendale defeated Newhall-Saugus, 13-12, at Birmingham High.

Newhall-Saugus, which was eliminated from the playoffs, finished 18-6 despite battling from an 8-3 deficit after three innings.

A four-run eighth inning--all of the runs coming with two out--enabled Newhall-Saugus to tie the game, 12-12. Rob Davis, who was 4 for 4 and reached base six times, started the rally by taking first base on an error. Roger Salkeld was hit by a pitch, before Tom Burges doubled down the third-base line, scoring Davis.

Sheldon Sparks beat out an infield single, with Salkeld scoring to make it 12-10. Billy Picketts then tied the score by driving in Burges and Sparks with a double to left center. The inning finally ended when Gary Morgan walked and was thrown out trying to steal second base. Four innings earlier, Morgan’s sixth homer of the season, a three-run shot to left, had brought Newhall-Saugus momentarily close.

Salkeld, who came in to pitch for Newhall-Saugus in the eighth inning, took the loss--his second in 10 decisions.

“It was a heavy-hitting game,” said Coach Tom Pedersen of Newhall-Saugus. “Late in the playoffs, it tends to get that way. There’s so much drain on the pitching staff.”

Salkeld was coming back with a short rest after throwing a complete game on Wednesday.

Granada Hills 12, Woodland Hills 11--Brian Ross was walked five times in Friday’s game at Pierce College, but in his only official at-bat, he hit a three-run homer.

Gino Tagliaferri and Scott Ross, who each had three hits, came through with offensive support. Mike Murray and Colin Hines each had two hits.

Hines, who will be a senior at Kennedy High, will start today at 11 a.m. against Glendale at Birmingham High. His record is 4-3, but his earned run average is 1.40. The loser of the game will be eliminated from the playoffs.