Van Nuys Romps to Title, 5-0

With a lot of help from Saugus, Westlake and Newhall, Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks captured the Babe Ruth League World Series on Saturday with a 5-0 win over Berlin, Conn.

Robby Davis, who played varsity baseball at Saugus High as a freshman last season, pitched a four-hit shutout and hit a home run for Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks’ final run.

And Brian Smith, who attends Westlake High, hit a home run--his 11th of the tournament--to open the scoring.

Six players from a Newhall team that won the Pony League World Series last season formed the nucleus of Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks’ team.

Those six--Jason Edwards, Darin Tsukashima, Lance Migita, Jay Sanford, Chris Vasquez and Davis--have been part of four World Series championship teams in six years.

For the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks team of 13- to 15-year-olds, it was the fourth victory without a loss in the World Series and 14th consecutive tournament victory.

“The experience and maturity of the guys from Newhall kept everyone focused,” Manager Chuck Martin said. “This team is very seasoned and poised.”

Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks’ other World Series victories came against Greenville, N.C., (9-2); Newburgh, Ind., (5-0); and Mount Airy, Md., (13-0).

“Our defense was particularly outstanding this week,” said Coach Dave Kramer, who managed Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks to a third-place finish in the 1984 Babe Ruth League World Series.

This year’s team, which made only three errors in the four games at Jamestown Community College, finished with a streak of 22 consecutive scoreless innings. Mark Kurtz and Edwards pitched earlier shutouts.

Davis (2-0), who struck out two and walked three, was helped by some excellent defense.

With the bases loaded in the fifth, Smith, the third baseman, ranged to his left to snare a ground ball and threw to second for a force out to end the inning. A double play from shortstop Migita to second baseman Tsukashima to first baseman Edwards--aborted a potential rally in the fourth.

The Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks hitters went to work in the second inning to provide Davis with a cushion.

With one out, Smith hit a home run to left-center field and Chris Lohman followed with a single. After the second out, Kevin Milligan doubled home Lohman and scored when a fly ball by Sanford was misplayed by the right fielder. Tsukashima’s double scored Sanford to give Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks a 4-0 lead.

Davis’ home run, his fifth of the tournament, came in the fifth inning and completed the scoring.

Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks complemented its pitching and defense with some prolific hitting. In 14 tournament games, the team batted .406 and hit 29 home runs.

Six starters batted better than .400. Davis hit .566 with 25 runs batted in and 21 runs scored. Vasquez batted .522, Milligan batted .474, Smith batted .455 and led the team with 28 RBIs and 22 runs scored, Edwards batted .420 and Tsukashima batted .409.

Edwards, the winning pitcher against Greenville and Mount Airy, Tsukashima and Davis were named to the World Series all-tournament team.