VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Poly Squeezes Past San Fernando

No lead was safe at San Fernando High on Monday, where Poly and the host Tigers played tug-of-war for 10 innings in a Holt-Goodman semifinal game.

It was Poly, however, that came up with the final tug, squeaking by San Fernando, 11-10, when sophomore catcher Steve Chavez singled in winning pitcher Eddie Castellanos in the top of the 10th.

To force extra innings, Poly (14-2) came back from a 6-1 deficit when Marlon McKinney hit a two-run single to pull the Parrots to within 6-4 in the sixth. In the seventh, Poly exploded for six runs with runs batted in from Gabe Chavez, Rodrigo Dorame and McKinney.

Staring at a 10-6 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, San Fernando (10-4-2) struck back for four runs, with a two-run single Richard Sanchez tying the score. Sanchez attempted to score on a single by Art Tarin, but was thrown out by Poly left fielder Jonathan Campbell to force extra innings.

Castellanos, who leads Valley pitchers with a 9-0 record, started for Poly but was removed in the fourth in favor of Rodrigo Dorame.

Castellanos came back to pitch in the sixth inning, and finished up for the win. Poly will meet Birmingham in the final today at 1:30 p.m. at Birmingham.

In other Holt-Goodman tournament games:

Birmingham 6, Franklin 2--Junior Jason Mansfield (3-2) scattered three hits and struck out eight to propel the Braves in a semifinal game at Birmingham.

A four-run first inning, including RBIs from Bob Bookatz and Noah Kirshbaum, gave Birmingham (10-5-1) a lead it would never relinquish. For the winners, Matt Mowry, Danny Larson and Mike Malkin each had two hits.

Sylmar 17, Kennedy 2--Dereck Ornelas went four for five and drove in three runs to lead Sylmar at Kennedy.

Sylmar (10-5) scored in every inning but the seventh. Danny Hernandez and Ben Soliz each had two hits and two RBIs to support the pitching of Danny Garcia.

Monroe 3, Cleveland 2--Sean Henson (3-3) scattered four hits and struck out 10 in going the distance for host Monroe in a third-round game. Fran Espinosa hit an RBI double and Henson hit an RBI single for Monroe (5-5) in a three-run first inning.

Grant 9, Verdugo Hills 0--Steve Pelote hit a double, triple and home run to lead Grant (4-11) to a third-round win at Verdugo Hills.

Pelote scored three runs and drove in two to support the pitching of sophomore Tony Kuper (3-3), who scattered five hits and struck out four. Nick Oriti had two hits, scored two runs and drove in one for Grant.

THOUSAND OAKS TOURNAMENT

El Camino Real 7, Danville Monte Vista 6--Ryan McGuire hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give El Camino Real a first-round win.

Playing on Thousand Oaks’ junior varsity field, McGuire hit Mike Austin’s 3-2 pitch over the center field fence of the varsity field to keep the Conquistadores (9-0-1) undefeated.

Brian Sparkman led off the game with a home run for Monte Vista (9-2-1), but El Camino Real countered with three runs in the second inning and two in the third to take a 5-2 lead.

Monte Vista (9-2-1), the top-ranked team in the East Bay area, tied the score with three runs (two unearned) in the fourth.

Pat Treend (6-0) pitched a complete game for the victory.

Monte Vista 6, Thousand Oaks 5--Brent Christenson had two hits and David Skeels had two hits and three RBIs for Thousand Oaks (7-4) in a consolation game.

Monte Vista overcame a 5-3 deficit with two runs in the sixth and Jeff Bruce singled home the winning run in the seventh.

Canyon 6, Thousand Oaks 4--Winning pitcher Oscar Silva went three for four with one RBI to lead Canyon (7-6) to a first-round win. Roy Bjorklund earned a save.

Billy Hall had two hits for Thousand Oaks.

Agoura 8, San Marcos 7--Josh Smaler was four for four with three RBIs and Bobby Kazmirski added a home run and double as Agoura won its fourth consecutive game and advanced to the semifinals. In its opener, Agoura beat Calabasas, 9-1, as freshman Shawn Warren threw a five-hitter in his first start.

On the day, Smaler had six hits and Kazmirski added five, including two home runs.

Montclair Prep 4, Camarillo 3 (8 innings)--J. T. Billingslea scored the winning run when a double steal caused a Camarillo balk.

Sophomore Russell Ortiz scattered four hits and struck out four for Montclair Prep (13-2). The Mounties took a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning when Jared Baumblatt stroked a two-run double.

Camarillo 4, Dos Pueblos 3 (8 innings)--Robert Sanchez scored the winning run on a throwing error with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Danny Haas (3-1) struck out five and allowed seven hits in eight innings.

Montclair Prep 8, Lompoc 1--Brent Polacheck hit his fourth home run and drove in four runs to lead Montclair Prep to a first-round win. Freshman Chris Ferebee (12-2) scattered four hits and struck out nine for the Mounties.

BABE HERMAN TOURNAMENT

Buena 11, Newbury Park 10--With two out in the bottom of the seventh, Tyler Williamson doubled in Nate Seward in a championship semifinal at Stengel field.

Williamson was three for four with two RBIs and teammate Ryan Denger was two for two and drove in four runs for Buena (11-4-2).

Quartz Hill 5, Hoover 4--The Rebels took advantage of a Hoover error to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh in a consolation semifinal at Stengel field.

With two out and Quartz Hill trailing, 4-2, Dave Haney reached base on an error that allowed pinch-runner Ryan Guthrie to score from second. Jimmy Weese singled home Haney and Andy Putnam followed with a game-winning double to drive in Weese.

Crescenta Valley 4, Burroughs 3--Scott Anderson singled, stole second and came home on Shane Cowsill’s double to score the decisive run in the fifth in a consolation semifinal at Stengel field.

Henry Fernandez scattered five hits for Crescenta Valley (7-7) and Brian McBride, who allowed no hits over 2 2/3 innings, earned his third save.

FAR WEST CLASSIC

Chatsworth 18, West Springfield, Va., 0--Mike Mancuso had five hits, including a home run and a double, and drove in four runs to lead Chatsworth (11-3-1). Reed McMackin pitched a five-hitter and struck out eight. Nestor Martinez added four hits and three RBIs for the Chancellors.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LEAGUE

Bell-Jeff 4, Harvard 0--Kurt Patino pitched a four-hit shutout and struck out three and Anthony Pawluc had two hits for host Bell-Jeff (6-7, 2-1).

GILROY GARLIC CLASSIC

Hart 16, Los Altos 0--Sean O’Brien, promoted from the junior varsity, pitched a two-hit shutout and Lance Migita had three hits and three stolen bases for Hart.