HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Birmingham Posts 9th Win in a Row

A five-run fourth inning sparked Birmingham High to an 8-2 victory over host Van Nuys on Monday in a Mid-Valley League baseball game.

Danny Larson hit a solo home run in the fourth for the Braves (14-5-1, 8-4), who rolled to their ninth consecutive win.

Senior right-hander Josh Brown (10-2) pitched his 10th complete game, striking out nine. Brown received support from Mike Malkin, who had three hits and scored two runs, and designated-hitter Adam Kallen, who had two hits and also scored twice.

Left-hander Jayme Jimenez (3-3) absorbed the loss for Van Nuys (4-8, 4-8), which fell one-half game behind Reseda in the race for second place. Birmingham leads Reseda by 3 1/2 games.

VOLLEYBALL

Monroe d. Sherman Oaks CES, 15-4, 15-4, 15-1--Erik Ramey recorded 31 assists and Brad Packer had 13 kills to lead the Vikings in a Valley Pac-8 Conference match at Sherman Oaks CES.

Matt Johnson had three service aces for Monroe.

North Hollywood d. Reseda 16-14, 8-15, 15-10, 15- 12--Leedom Jeff (10 kills), Wade Harlan (10 kills) and Gerard Tavant (11 kills) led North Hollywood in a Valley Pac-8 Conference match at home.

Van Nuys d. Sylmar, 15-5, 15-10, 15-11--Van Nuys recorded a three-game win in a Valley Pac-8 Conference match at home.

Granada Hills d. Kennedy, 10-15, 15-8, 15-4, 15-2--Danny Asaoka had 14 kills and Dane Rood added 10 kills to lead host Granada Hills (9-2, 4-2) to a North Valley League win.

Chatsworth d. Canoga Park, 15-5, 15-5, 15-13--Craig Hewitt recorded 10 kills and Danny Choi had 26 assists as the defending City Section 4-A Division champion Chancellors improved to 10-2, 6-0, with a West Valley League win at Canoga Park.

Cleveland d. El Camino Real, 15-4, 13-15, 13-15, 15-12, 15-13--El Camino Real was on the verge of winning its second match of the year but Cleveland middle-hitter Cesar Guiterrez’s 21 kills and 15 blocks helped spoil the host Conquistadores’ effort in a West Valley League match.

Setter Yan Huang had 48 assists for Cleveland (2-6, 2-1).

Harvard d. Notre Dame, 15-4, 15-6, 15-7--Andres Carlo had 17 kills and Nick Wootton added 16 for Harvard (9-2, 7-0) in a San Fernando Valley League match.

Chaminade d. St. Genevieve, 15-6, 15-7, 15-12--Greg Webb had 12 kills to lead host Chaminade (9-6, 5-2) to a San Fernando Valley League win.