AMERICAN LEGION ROUNDUP : Pickoff Helps Van Nuys Earn Nod Over Sun Valley

With a shake of the head, Van Nuys-Notre Dame pitcher Eric Vellozzi sent quite a tremor through the Sun Valley dugout in an American Legion District 20 Eastern Division game Tuesday night.

With runners on first and third, one out, and the score tied in the fourth inning, Vellozzi shook off a pitchout sign from Coach Jody Breeden. Instead, Vellozzi and catcher David Supple opted for a pickoff play at third.

The play worked to perfection, Vellozzi escaped the jam and his teammates added a run in the bottom of the inning as Van Nuys-Notre Dame handed Sun Valley a 2-1 defeat in a game at Poly High.

The defeat was the second in 16 decisions for Eastern Division leader Sun Valley and kept alive the playoff hopes of Van Nuys-Notre Dame (10-6).

Van Nuys-Notre Dame took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Vinnie Orlando singled and stole second. One out later, Eric Martorano beat out an infield single off the glove of Sun Valley pitcher Robert Flores. Glen Carson drove in Orlando with a sacrifice fly to center.

In other District 20 games:

West Hills 8, Newhall-Saugus 7--West Hills ended a 10-game losing streak by scoring three runs with the help of three Newhall-Saugus errors in a wild seventh inning at Chaminade High.

After West Hills scored once in the seventh to come within 7-6, Aaron Weiss walked with one out and a runner at second. One out later, Mike Andry nubbed one in front of the plate. Newhall-Saugus catcher Steve Mann and reliever Oscar Silva bumped and Silva dropped the ball for an error.

Jeff Meyer--who was at second--stormed around third to score. Silva tried to gun down Weiss--who was at first--as he sped for third, but threw the ball into left field for another error and Weiss continued home with the game-winner for West Hills (6-13).

Panorama City 4, Burbank 0--Roland De La Maza (3-2) threw a three-hitter, struck out seven and walked one at Monroe High.

Sean Henson went two for two with a run-scoring single for Panorama City (12-5).

Woodland Hills East 11, Chatsworth 1--Brett Reisner was four for four in a game at Taft High that was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule.

Right-hander Chris Brown allowed four hits, struck out six and walked one for East (15-3) while teammate Jamie Zeichick had a home run and four RBIs.

Granada Hills 9, Las Virgenes 6--David Cipolla had three hits and teammates Heath McElwee, Darryl Stroh and Robert Rundquist added two each.