American Legion Roundup : West Hills Continues Turnaround by Overtaking San Fernando, 8-5

Three wins in a row may be a minor streak, but compared to the direction West Hills was headed a week ago--south--even a mini-streak is better than a big-time skid.

“Three wins in a row, we’re red hot,” West Hills Coach Jack Weiss cracked. “Better warn Woodland Hills West.”

His Woodland Hills rival doesn’t have to worry just yet, but if West Hills continues the timely hitting it had in an 8-5 win over San Fernando in an interdivisional District 20 game at San Fernando on Wednesday, it might not be a bad idea to keep an eye on the rear-view mirror.

West Hills (5-9) rallied for three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh to defeat San Fernando, which led, 5-2, after four innings.

In the fifth, Joe Gordon led off with a single and advanced on a wild pitch by Bobby Corrales. Aaron Weiss singled home Gordon, and after a walk to Justin Stark, Steve Roberts delivered Weiss.

Stark then scored on Greg Baumgartner’s single to tie the score, 5-5.

West Hills took a 6-5 lead in the sixth when Tony Collatos singled, stole second and scored on a single by Gordon.

Right-hander Mike Weinstein pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh, allowing three hits, to earn a save.

Collatos, Gordon, Roberts and Baumgartner each had two hits for West Hills.

Richard Calzada had three hits and Ryan Vela and Corrales each had two hits for San Fernando.

In other District 20 games:

Newhall-Saugus 7, Foothill Valley 5--Shortstop Brad Anderson belted a two-run home run in the fifth to tie the score and singled in an insurance run in the seventh in a Northern Division game at Saugus High.

With their team trailing, 3-1, in the fifth, Tom Burges and Ben Ealy walked. Corey Byars followed with a two-run double and came home on Anderson’s homer to left that gave Newhall-Saugus a 5-3 lead.

After right-hander Scott Thomason yielded a two-run home run in the sixth to tie the score, 5-5, Newhall-Saugus (12-2) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth. Ealy walked, stole second and third and scored on a single by Byars.

Byars stole second and scored on a single by Anderson, who finished with three runs batted in. Ealy (1-0), who relieved Thomas in the sixth after the two-run home run, pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first win.

Palmdale 5, Encino-Crespi 2--Two errors and a pair of wild pitches by Encino-Crespi in the fourth inning led to four unearned runs in an interdivisional game at Valley College.

Encino-Crespi right-hander Rick Marino allowed one earned run, struck out eight and walked two. Mark Venturine was two for four with a home run and two RBIs for Encino-Crespi (7-6).

Encino-Crespi, which outhit Palmdale, nine to seven, loaded the bases in the second and fourth innings and did not score.

Sun Valley 6, Valley Encino-Tarzana 1--After allowing a run in the first inning, Sun Valley right-hander Herman Miranda finished with a one-hitter through five innings in an Eastern Division game at Poly High.

Miranda struck out two and walked two before he was relieved by right-hander Shad Martinez in the sixth. Martinez, who is recovering from a hairline fracture of the left wrist, pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh.

For Sun Valley, Abel Trujillo was two for three with a double. Herman Murillo also doubled for Sun Valley, which scored in each of the first four innings.

Left-hander Jason Mansfield took the loss for Valley ET.

North Hollywood d. Studio City (forfeit)--North Hollywood defeated Studio City in an Eastern interdivisional game at North Hollywood when only eight players showed up for Studio City.

North Hollywood is 8-6.