Gritty Henson Earns Win for Panorama City

Sean Henson’s left arm felt sore and he didn’t think he could pitch more than two innings Wednesday.

But the senior from Monroe High persisted for three innings of relief in Panorama City’s 5-4 win over previously unbeaten Sun Valley in an American Legion District 20 game at Poly High.

With Panorama City (6-2) trailing, 4-3, in the top of the seventh, Josh Smith blooped a two-out, bases-loaded single over Sun Valley first baseman Carlos Antigua to score Henson and Roland De La Maza and give his team the lead.

Sun Valley (4-1) advanced baserunners to second and third in the bottom of the inning with two out. Henson (1-0), who struck out the side in the sixth and Zef Carlin to start the seventh, retired Robert Flores on a grounder to end the game.

“It was cold and my arm was feeling stiff,” said Henson, who pitched four innings in relief in Panorama City’s 9-3 win over San Fernando on Sunday. “My arm was still sore, but it started loosening up once I got out there. I thought I could go two innings, but it wound up to be three. I didn’t try to overpower anybody. I just tried to hit the spots and throw strikes.”

Henson (1-0), started the game in left field, moved to first base in the fourth inning and took the mound the following inning in relief of Noel Toledo.

“He’s our utility man,” Panorama City Coach Scott Smith said of Henson. “We weren’t even going to use him today. He was only going to pitch two innings, but then we tied the game and had to go another.”

Sun Valley scored three runs, including two on Jonathan Campbell’s triple, in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Panorama City pushed across runs in the fifth and sixth to close to within 4-3.

Sun Valley’s Jake Loveridge (0-1) went the distance, giving up 13 hits, including 12 singles. Colyn Van Buren and John Langley each had two hits for Panorama City.