HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Sylmar Strikes Back in 8-5 Win

Forget the first strike. Don’t worry about the second. In Sylmar High’s Valley Pac-8 Conference baseball game against Birmingham on Monday, staring down the barrel of an 0-and-2 count didn’t mean much.

Behind a pair of 0-and-2 hits by Pat Garcia and James Encinas, Sylmar scored four times in the bottom of the fifth to break up a tie game en route to an 8-5 win at Sylmar.

After Birmingham scored four runs in the top of the fifth to forge a 4-4 tie, Garcia and Encinas each lined two-run singles off Jason Mansfield (1-2).

Bob Bookatz, who had three hits for Birmingham (4-3-1, 2-2 in league play), hit a two-run home run in the top of the inning to tie the score.

“That was the big inning,” Sylmar Coach Gary Donatella said. “We had to answer their runs with some of our own.”

Senior right-hander Gonzalo Hernandez (2-0) allowed eight hits over seven innings, struck out seven and walked four for Sylmar (5-3, 2-2). Dereck Ornelas had three hits, and David Romero and Garcia had two apiece for Sylmar.

In other baseball games:

Poly 17, Van Nuys 0--Rodrigo Dorame and David Giatti combined on a one-hitter to lead Poly in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at home.

Dorame (2-0), a junior right-hander who struck out six and walked six over five innings, allowed a double in the second inning.

Giatti pitched the last two innings, striking out three.

Roy Lozano, Jonathan Campbell and Dorame (three runs batted in) each had two hits.

Raul Torres and Robert Aros each had two hits off the bench for Poly (6-2, 4-0), which had 15 hits.

Grant 5, Monroe 2--Right-hander Tony Kuper threw a one-hitter over 6 1/3 innings to lead Grant in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Monroe.

Kuper struck out four before giving way to Steve Pelote in the bottom of the seventh.

Pelote allowed two walks and a base hit to load the bases before striking out Chad Majors to end the game.

Justin Howard had two hits for Grant (3-5, 2-2), which turned a pair of first-inning walks by senior left-hander Sean Henson (1-2) into a three-run rally. Monroe is 2-2, 2-2.

North Hollywood 6, Reseda 4--Mike Lewis and Eric Martinez hit solo home runs and Adrian Padilla and Duane Braxton had two hits each as North Hollywood (2-2, 2-2) won its second Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Reseda.

Martinez, who pitched the first five innings, then re-entered to pitch the seventh, picked up the win. North Hollywood (2-2, 2-2) took a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning when Braxton lined a two-run single with the bases loaded.

Joe Tushnet brought Reseda (2-2, 2-2) back with a three-run double in the bottom of the sixth. Tushnet’s hit, which was inches from a grand slam, made the score 5-4 before Martinez homered in the top of the seventh to account for the final score.

Sophomore Jesse Yeomans (2-1) took the loss for Reseda.

Hollywood 8, Verdugo Hills 5--Pat Eubanks was two for four with a home run for Verdugo Hills (1-3, 1-2) in a Northern Conference loss at Hollywood.

The win for Hollywood (1-1, 1-1) was its fourth in five seasons.

Chaminade 5, Mary Star 5--Despite three home runs in a five-run first inning, Chaminade was unable to record its seventh consecutive win in a nonleague game at Mary Star that was called after seven innings because of darkness.

Ted Corcoran had two hits and homered for Chaminade (6-1-1). Billy Blair had two hits, and Justin Stark and Jeff Myer homered for Chaminade.

Oakwood 28, Yeshiva 2--Nat Perlof had three hits, including a home run, and winning pitcher Cassidy Pope (2-0) homered and scored five runs for host Oakwood (4-1 in a Liberty League opener.

John Levine added four hits, three RBIs and scored three runs for the winners, while teammate Matt Williams had three hits, scored three runs and drove in two.

Providence 12, Windward 1--Rick Mena (3-1) struck out 16 batters and surrendered just one hit in going the distance in a Liberty League opener for both at Providence.

Greg Hurley hit a two-run home run for Providence (4-2).

SOFTBALL

Hoover 4, Bell-Jeff 2--Freshman right-hander Nancy Evans (7-0) had 11 strikeouts in five innings and reliever Diane Anderson struck out four batters in two innings to lead Hoover (8-0) in a nonleague game at Pelanconi Park in Glendale.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Harvard d. Notre Dame, 15-9, 15-2, 15-13--Behind 14 kills by Rick Osterloh, Harvard recorded its 50th consecutive league victory in a San Fernando Valley League match at Harvard (2-1).

The streak, which also includes play in the Ocean and Santa Fe leagues, dates to 1986.

Kennedy d. Eagle Rock, 15-10, 15-8, 15-12--Setter Dave Richardson had 33 assists to lead Kennedy (3-1) in a nonleague match at Eagle Rock.

Chatsworth d. Huntington Park, 15-5, 15-0, 15-5--Craig Hewitt had eight kills in nine attempts and teammate Gene Urcan was six for six to lead Chatsworth (4-2) in a nonleague match at home.

Taft d. Reseda, 15-11, 15-11, 15-8--Cody Hine had 10 kills and Matt Davis added nine to lead Taft (3-0) in a nonleague match at Taft. Adam Friedman had 17 assists for Taft.

Monroe d. Canoga Park, 15-8, 15-5, 15-8--Brad Packer had 12 kills and Sorasa Seam served five aces for host Monroe in a nonleague game. Jean Masequesmay added nine blocks for Monroe (4-0).

Pater Noster d. Bell-Jeff, 12-15, 15-10, 15-8, 15-5--Richard Castillo had 12 kills to lead Pater Noster (3-3) to a nonleague win at Bell-Jeff. Alan Dichosa added 11 kills for the winners.

Pasadena Poly d. Montclair Prep, 15-6, 15-11, 15-3--Ed Cibrian had seven kills and Charles Murphy added six for Montclair Prep (2-4, 0-2) in a Liberty League match at Pasadena. Mehrdad Farhat had six blocks for the Mounties.

Granada Hills d. Venice, 10-15, 15-6, 15-6, 15-5--Danny Asaoka had 25 kills for Granada Hills (4-0) while Brian Herbst and Dane Rood added 14 kills in a nonleague match at Venics.

Van Nuys d. Cleveland, 15-12, 8-15, 15-17, 15-5, 15-12--In a nonleague match at Cleveland, Brad Schultz had 23 kills and teammate Brian Chung added 21 kills for Van Nuys (3-1).

For Cleveland, Chinh Tran had 24 kills and Vincent Herring added 16 kills.

Belmont d. Sylmar 15-4, 15-13, 15-7--Robert Flores had a match-high eight kills for Sylmar (1-3) in a nonleague match at home.

North Hollywood d. Lincoln, 15-7, 17-15, 15-9--Jaime Anaya had seven kills and five blocks for North Hollywood (3-1) in a nonleague match at Lincoln.