Kennedy Takes Advantage of San Fernando’s Charity

Coach Steve Marden promised his San Fernando High baseball team that he wouldn’t raise his voice this season when a game was in progress.

Throw away the ball? Not a peep. Boot a grounder? Mouth zipped tight. Wild pitch to the backstop? Marden’s teeth gnash, but there are no screams.

“No yelling this year,” he said. “Intensity in a game has to come from the team, not the coach.”

If San Fernando continues to play as it did in an 8-4 loss in a North Valley League opener at home against Kennedy on Thursday, Marden is destined for ulcers. The Tigers (3-1-1, 0-1 in league play) committed six errors in the game, which was called after five innings because of darkness.

San Fernando scored two runs in the first off right-hander Cody Beaumaster (2-0), who gave up four consecutive singles. Kennedy, however, blew the game open with five runs in the fourth--or perhaps San Fernando deserves the credit, whichever is preferred.

With Kennedy trailing, 2-1, Palmer Drain roped a one-out triple to right-center and scored on a wild pitch by Hector De La Cruz (1-1). Ben Guzman followed with a bunt single.

Guzman was picked off first, but De La Cruz threw the ball away for an error. Jack Moussa walked and was also caught off first by De La Cruz, but first baseman Adrian Diaz threw the ball into left field.

With two out, James Bernas was safe on third baseman Richard Sanchez’s throwing error. Before the mess was sorted out--Jason Rosen and Garret Anderson contributed run-scoring singles--Kennedy (4-0, 1-0) had a 6-2 lead.

Kennedy took advantage of further San Fernando charity in the fifth. Carlos Rodriguez, who had just moved from right field to third, booted the first ball hit to him, then threw it into the Kennedy dugout for a double error.

Beaumaster allowed eight hits, struck out five and walked three in five innings.

Now, how would Marden address his players? With a dressing-down?

“I still won’t yell,” he said. “I’ll just let them know we didn’t deserve to win.”