High School Baseball : El Camino Real Makes Late Move

It’s too late to catch Chatsworth, but El Camino Real has nearly escaped the West Valley League cellar after defeating Taft, 3-1, Thursday at home.

The win was the second in a row for the Conquistadores, who had lost six league games in a row before defeating Cleveland on Wednesday. El Camino Real and Cleveland are tied for last with league records of 3-7. The Conquistadores, who are 6-8 overall, are one game behind Taft (8-9, 4-6 in league play).

Patrick Treend carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning and picked up the victory. Treend (2-0) was relieved by in the sixth by Lance Gibson, who picked up his second save. Denny Vigo, Carl McFadden and Mike Stephenson each had two hits and a run batted in for El Camino Real.

Canoga Park 9, Reseda 3--Adam Schulhofer’s grand slam highlighted a six-run fourth inning, backing Mike Kerber’s complete-game four-hit victory in the West Valley League contest at Reseda.

Reseda (7-7, 4-6) had taken a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third on Kevin Ogle’s three-run triple. The Hunters improved to 7-6, 6-4 in league play.

Birmingham 7, Van Nuys 2--Alan Sedacca pitched a complete-game five-hitter to improve his record to 6-3 and lead the Braves to a Mid-Valley League win at Van Nuys.

The Braves parlayed four hits and two hit batters into six runs in the fourth inning. Chuck Fiore was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Melvin Batrez was 2 for 4 with including a double, two RBIs and a run scored for Van Nuys.

Fairfax 4, Grant 2--Fairfax scored four runs in the fourth inning and went on to win the East Valley League game at Fairfax.

Grant starter Glen Rothstein (1-1) walked a batter to force in the Lions’ first run and Fairfax (8-11, 5-8) added three more on two sacrifice flies and a run-scoring single.

Grant (8-9, 6-7) scored in the third when Jeff Boado singled home John Garcia. The Lancers added an unearned run in the sixth.

Chaminade 12, Pater Noster 4--Mike LeCocq’s two-run double highlighted a five-run third inning as host Chaminade improved to 8-1-1 in Santa Fe League play.

Tony Collatos was 3 for 4, including a double, and had two stolen bases. David Stark pitched 3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first win.

Grace Community 23, Clearview 0--Grace Community scored 13 runs in the third inning to make a rout of the Westside League game, which was called after five innings due to a 10-run mercy rule.

In the third, Grace Community (10-6, 4-1) sent 17 batters to the plate, came up with nine hits, three walks, and took advantage of eight Clearview errors.

Chad Hankinson (4-3) threw five shutout innings, striking out 11. Cal Frost went 3 for 5 with four RBIs and Mike Tonthat was 2 for 3.