North Valley Strategy Lifts Sylmar, 8-4

A No. 9-hitter and an opponent’s reject helped make a prophet of Sylmar Coach Larry Kapuscinski on Friday night.

Robert Chavez, who brings up the rear in Sylmar’s batting order, clubbed a sixth-inning grand slam and pitcher Jeff Adam, who was cut from North Valley earlier this summer, shut the door on his former team, 8-4, in the first round of the Palomino Coast Regional tournament at Cal State Northridge.

Kapuscinski had predicted as much earlier in the week. “We knew we were going to win this one,” he said. “I don’t know about the rest of the tournament, but I knew we could win today.”

Sylmar (3-1) plays today at 4 p.m. against the winner of a morning game between Covina and Harbor. North Valley plays the loser of the Covina-Harbor game at 1 p.m.

Kapuscinski’s prediction became reality only after a key decision by North Valley Coach Scott Drootin.

With the score tied, 4-4, Sylmar had runners at second and third with No. 8 batter Rudy Sanchez due to bat. Drootin elected to play the percentages and walk Sanchez to face Chavez.

Chavez, who had homered in the third and reached base on a deep grounder to shortstop in the fifth, provided Sylmar the winning margin with a blast over the left-field fence.

“It was a mistake,” Chavez said. “I had to prove myself. Maybe they will give me a little more respect next time.”

Adam (2-0) struck out six, walked three and scattered nine hits in 6 innings against a team that once didn’t have room for him on its roster. He said revenge did not enter his mind, however.

“I knew where not to pitch them,” he said. “It kind of hurt when I got cut, so I didn’t want to be embarrassed.”

Mike Roberts relieved Adam with two outs and a runner on in the seventh inning and induced Gino Tagliaferri to ground out to end the game.