City Section Baseball Playoffs : Kennedy Batters Blitz North Hollywood, 19-1

Anybody keen on metaphors did not need to look hard--or very long--for one when North Hollywood junior right-hander Bennie Valdez took the mound Wednesday.

The first thing he did, after walking Kennedy leadoff hitter Mike Schlesinger, was remove his undershirt in an impromptu striptease along the first base line.

Kennedy continued to undress him the rest of the way.

The Golden Cougars battered Valdez and two other North Hollywood right-handers, scoring in every inning en route to a 19-1 victory in the first round of the 4-A Division playoffs at Kennedy. In Friday’s quarterfinals, the Golden Cougars play host to Canoga Park, a 9-5 winner Wednesday over Granada Hills.

Six Kennedy players drove in runs, 13 hit safely and the team batted around in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Senior left-hander Colin Hines (10-2) won his fifth consecutive decision, allowing four hits in five innings as Kennedy (19-9), the third-seeded team in the playoffs, won its 10th consecutive game.

Every Kennedy player entered the game. Even non-starters Mitch Cizek, Lazaro Campos and Danny Gugler combined to drive in seven runs.

The regulars got their fill, too. Gino Tagliaferri, who drove in four runs, gave Kennedy a 5-1 lead in the second inning with a three-run home run to left, his second home run in as many games.

In the fourth, Craig Fleck’s grand slam gave Kennedy a 10-0 lead. By the time the inning had ended, Kennedy led, 12-0, and had scored six runs in a rally that started with two out and the bases empty.

The Golden Cougars added three more in the fifth and four in the sixth off relievers Erik Martinez and Steve Sobisky. Valdez allowed 12 runs--eight earned--in five innings. North Hollywood finished 10-13.