East’s Krasner Enjoys Another Field Day in 5-1 Legion Win

Like a target, Mike Krasner seems to attract bullets. Every time the Woodland Hills East player enters the lineup, sure as shootin’, someone sends a rocket in his direction.

“Every time I come in in relief, it’s bam , right at him,” teammate Benji Belfield said.

For the third time in as many games Wednesday, Krasner entered the game at second in the late innings and turned a double play.

With two runners aboard and East leading by a run in the sixth, Krasner snared Brian Spina’s line drive and doubled Joey Medaglia off first to help preserve East’s 5-1 victory over Agoura in an American Legion District 20 game at Taft High.

How unlikely a hero is Krasner at second? When he entered the game, Taft High Coach Rich McKeon, who coached Krasner last season and was watching from the stands, said, “They better hope somebody hits it right at him.”

Krasner, who will be a junior in the fall, said he has recorded a hat trick--three times players have grounded or lined into double plays with the tying or go-ahead run in scoring position in the late innings.

Not bad for a guy who freely admits that playing second base is hardly second nature for him.

“Last time I played second base before this season was about 10 years ago,” said Krasner, who played third base and designated-hitter last season. “Probably in tee-ball.”

East (12-1) hardly teed off against Agoura starter Jeff Gibbons (3-2), who allowed three singles. Gibbons hurt himself in the third when, after retiring eight consecutive batters to open the game, he walked pitcher Eric Rothman (5-0) and Matt Allison with two out.

Belfield lined a single into right-center to drive in Rothman and Allison scored on an infield error.

Agoura (6-8) rallied in the sixth. Rothman issued a leadoff walk to Eric Pryor, and, after going to a 2-0 count on Bob Kazmirski, he was relieved by Belfield, who then walked Kazmirski. Medaglia sent a grounder up the middle--his third hit--to drive in Pryor and cut the lead to 2-1. One out later, Spina sent a liner to Krasner, who doubled Medaglia off first.

East added three unearned runs in the sixth to take a four-run lead.

Belfield pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his third save for East, which avenged its lone defeat of the season.