Kurtz Pitches Van Nuys to 2nd Series Win, 5-0

When a team averages more than 13 runs a game, pitching quickly can become something of an afterthought. A coach can start a lumbering catcher on the mound and expect his chances to be pretty good, what with the offensive lumber he has for support.

But Coach Dave Kramer of the hard-hitting Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Babe Ruth team quickly will point out that, even though offense is its strong suit, his team can play defense and throw a pretty good pitcher at an opponent, too.

Left-hander Marc Kurtz threw a two-hitter and Robbie Davis and Jason Edwards each had two hits as Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks defeated Newburgh, Ind., 5-0, in the second round of the Babe Ruth World Series for 13-15-year-olds at Jamestown Community College on Tuesday.

The team will face Mt. Airy, Md., in the third round on Thursday at 5 p.m. PDT. Mt. Airy, which beat Berlin, Conn., 5-0, Monday, has not allowed a run in two tournament victories.

Kurtz allowed two scratch hits--a bunt single in the second and a bloop single in the seventh--struck out 10 and walked four. Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks had two double plays and one error.

“Usually, a team will give you the game in a tournament like this,” Kramer said. “Their defense breaks down and you capitalize. We went out and won it today and showed we can play defensively, too.”

Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks scored two runs in each of the first and fifth innings and added another in the seventh.

With one out in the first, Lance Migita and Davis singled and moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Migita scored on a passed ball, and Edwards followed with a walk. One out later, Chris Lohman singled home Davis for a 2-0 lead.

In the fifth, Darin Tsukashima reached on an error and stole second. One out later, Davis singled Tsukashima home. After a single by Edwards moved Davis to third, Brian Smith gave the team a 4-0 lead with a sacrifice fly.

Tsukashima scored an unearned run in the seventh to complete the scoring.

In Sunday’s opening round, Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks easily defeated Greenville, N.C., pounding out 13 hits in a 9-2 victory.