Marden Hopes to Find Right Lineup Tonight

San Fernando Coach Steve Marden pulled a card out of a hat Tuesday and, fortunately, it turned out to be the right one.

Because of an injury to center fielder Josh Bergara’s right ankle, Marden filled out several different lineups before Tuesday’s City Section 4-A Division semifinal game against Chatsworth at Cal State Northridge.

“We had guys penciled in in all kinds of places,” Marden said.

Some San Fernando fans must be reaching for their erasers right now--the Tigers (14-6) will be playing in their first City 4-A final, at 7:30 tonight at Dodger Stadium, and that must seem like some kind of misprint. Players are making sure they get it in writing.

“We’re measuring the excitement level by how many newspapers the kids are carrying around under their arm,” Marden quipped Wednesday. “I think they all got up at 5:30 and followed the paper boy around.”

San Fernando has defeated Monroe (12-16) nine consecutive times during Coach Kevin Campbell’s three-year tenure. Yet Marden says picking a favorite is as wise as planting bananas in Barstow.

“You never know. They expected to be home three weeks ago pulling weeds in their back yard,” he said. “Well, it’s three weeks later, their back yards still look like hell, but they’re playing at Dodger Stadium.”

The Tigers probably will start sophomore Hector De La Cruz (4-0) or senior Rudy Vargas (3-1), both left-handers. Senior right-hander Frank Serna (5-1), who defeated Chatsworth, 5-2, is also available for limited duty. Marden’s methodology may flush out a likely starting candidate.

“I’m going to station a team manager by the can to see who goes most often,” he said with a laugh. “I figure the guy who makes the most trips (to the bathroom) will be the most fired up, the guy who’ll get the ball.”

The Tigers’ record in the playoffs is not quite as sparkling as Marden would like, but he insists that having the door slammed in his face beats watching games from the stands.

“I like to look at it this way: You can’t get punched in the nose unless you’re the guy at the front of the line. We’d rather have the opportunity to get punched than be the last guy in line.”

Marden, of course, is hoping his team can find a good punch line tonight.