American Legion Baseball : Sun Valley Overcomes Another Slow Start

For the second time in four days, Sun Valley Coach Les Riley was left to lecture his team about the value of punctuality. That is, starting on time rather than snapping out of a slumber after several innings have already breezed past.

“I keep telling them, ‘You guys gotta start in the first inning,’ ” Riley said. “But nobody listens.”

Although his team’s work habits have caused Riley some anxious moments, Sun Valley awakened in time Saturday to win in its final at-bat for the second consecutive game.

Sun Valley rallied from a 5-0 deficit, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to edge Glendale, 8-7, in a District 20 Eastern Division game at Poly High.

Trailing, 7-6, Herman Murillo’s one-out double scored Adulfo Hernandez and Rodrigo Durame--both had walked--to give Sun Valley (4-1) the win. Sun Valley right-hander Eddie Castellanos (3-1) pitched the final seven innings for his second victory in four days. Eddie Chavez was two for three and John Campbell was two for four with four stolen bases for Sun Valley.

Two Sun Valley errors in the second allowed Glendale to take a 5-0 lead. Glendale led, 7-3, after 5 1/2 innings before Sun Valley scored three times in the sixth to close to within 7-6.

On Wednesday, Sun Valley scored twice with two out in the bottom of the seventh and final inning to beat Panorama City, 4-3.

In other District 20 games:

Burbank 11, North Hollywood 0--Right-hander Alan Carnero (1-1) pitched a five-hitter, struck out seven and walked two in an Eastern Division game at North Hollywood High that was called after seven innings because of the 10-run rule.

Burbank (4-1) scored in every inning but the second and fifth, surging for three runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth.

First baseman Steve Trainor hit two solo home runs and right fielder Kevin Guild had three hits and two runs batted in for Burbank. Steve Sobisky (1-1) took the loss for North Hollywood (2-3).

Reseda 2, Encino-Crespi 0--Reseda right-hander Tony Holiday pitched a five-hitter, struck out five and walked six in a Western Division game at Taft High.

Holiday (3-0) had a no-hitter through 4 2/3 innings and lowered his earned-run average to 1.04.

Reseda (3-2) scored the game’s only runs in the second. With one out, Holiday was safe on shortstop Mark Maurizi’s error and moved to second on a walk to Don Calabria. One out later, Encino-Crespi left-hander Anthony Zimmitti (0-1) hit Jeramy Gautereaux to load the bases. Reseda’s Mario Valencia followed with a two-run single.

Right-hander Dan Carroll struck out nine and allowed one hit in six innings of relief for Encino-Crespi (2-1).

Lancaster 9, Woodland Hills West 8--Andy Faircloth’s one-out double scored David Cooke with the winning run in an inter-division game at Antelope Valley High.

The loss was the first of the season for Woodland Hills West (3-1), which tied the score, 8-8, in the top of the ninth when Greg Lederman singled in Bobby Kim. Kim walked to open the inning and went to second on a wild pitch.

Woodland Hills East 14, West Hills 4--Mike Borzello, Brett Reisner and Rich Cosentino each had two hits and Glenn Nahmias had four RBIs for Woodland Hills East in a Western Division game at Chaminade High that was called after seven innings because of the 10-run rule.

Panorama City 4, Valley Encino-Tarzana 2--Joe Cascione hit an inside-the-park home run and Adam Clark tripled and scored on an error to spark a two-run rally in the eighth for Panorama City in an Eastern Division game at Monroe High.

Dave Unter earned the win for Panorama City (3-2). Justin Bass had a double for Valley ET (0-4).

DISTRICT 16

Westlake-Agoura 11, Conejo A 5--Mike Lieberthal was two for four with a home run and three RBIs and Brian Smith was two for four with three RBIs to lead Westlake-Agoura at Westlake High.

Right-hander Bob Grandpre (3-0) allowed six hits, struck out eight and walked five in 7 1/3 innings for Westlake-Agoura (6-1-1).