High School Baseball : Van Nuys Makes It a Day for Firsts

John House recorded the win, Keith Quigley recorded the save and Van Nuys High recorded history Thursday as the Wolves defeated Birmingham, 9-7, at Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Recreation Center to assume sole possession of first place in the Mid-Valley League.

Not since 1963--the last time Van Nuys qualified for postseason play--have the Wolves (4-0) been alone atop the league standings.

“I like it this way,” Coach Kenji Mochizuki said. “But I don’t want to predict anything.”

Trailing, 3-0, after an inning, Van Nuys parlayed nine singles into a 9-4 lead before withstanding a three-run seventh-inning rally by the Braves (0-4).

Taft 7, Canoga Park 4--Senior center fielder Jason Shapiro extended his hitting streak to nine games as host Taft rallied twice to remain undefeated in West Valley League play.

Trailing, 3-0, in the fifth, Taft (7-2 overall, 4-0 in league play) scored three times to tie the score. Glenn Nahmias, who had two hits and four RBIs, belted a run-scoring double and Adam Zutler and Benji Belfield each had run-scoring singles.

With his team trailing, 4-3, in the sixth, Nahmias rapped a three-run double to highlight a four-run inning. Belfield (3-0), who relieved starter Scott Tiano in the fifth, earned the victory. Zutler was three for four with four RBIs.

Chatsworth 18, El Camino Real 6--Senior Rich Aude slammed his fourth home run and senior Derek Wallace hit his third as the Chancellors (7-2, 7-0) pounded out 16 hits in a West Valley League game at El Camino Real.

Jason Cohen, who was three for four with four RBIs, hit a grand slam to highlight a five-run fifth inning for the Conquistadores (0-4 in league play).

Hart 8, Rowland 0--Andrew Lorraine, a junior left-hander, scattered five hits in the second round of the Chaparral tournament in Las Vegas.

For Hart (6-1), Casey Burrill was three for four and David Toledo had two hits, three RBIs and stole three bases, including home in the third inning.

Kennedy 10, Granada Hills 2--Garrett Anderson hit a two-run home run and a two-run single as Kennedy took an 8-0 lead after the first inning in a North Valley League game at Kennedy.

Gino Tagliaferri had two hits and Mike Murray and Danny Gugler each drove in two runs for Kennedy (7-2, 3-1).

Poly 3, North Hollywood 2--Mario Gomez pitched a three-hitter and Harold Whiteside had three hits for Poly (5-2, 3-1) in an East Valley League game at Poly.

Sylmar 13, Grant 8--Joe Contreraz belted a three-run home run to highlight a four-run second inning for Sylmar in an East Valley League game at Sylmar.