Panorama City Wins Twice, Will Play for District Title : American Legion: Last year’s runner-up does it the hard way, advancing through the losers’ bracket in double-elimination tournament.

After a loss in the first round of the American Legion District 20 baseball playoffs, Panorama City was facing the long road toward a second consecutive championship-game appearance.

That setback, to Quartz Hill, pushed Panorama City into the losers’ bracket of the double-elimination tournament. That meant Panorama City had to win its next three games to make the final.

An upset over top-seeded Sun Valley on Thursday qualified Panorama City to play Glendale on Saturday and, if it won, a second game with Woodland Hills East later in the day.

Panorama City had to be almost flawless in both games if it was to meet defending champion Woodland Hills West in the final today at Birmingham High. And it was.

Sparked by an 11-strikeout performance by Roland De La Maza against Glendale, a five-hit, four-run effort in the second inning against Woodland Hills East and two errorless games, Panorama City, last year’s District 20 runner-up, claimed 10-5 and 7-3 victories at Birmingham High.

Woodland Hills West (22-4) must win the 11 a.m. game today to finish the District 20 playoffs undefeated. Should Panorama City (22-6) win the morning matchup, a tie-breaking, winner-take-all game will be played at 3 p.m. The District 20 champion will advance to the Area 6 playoffs from Thursday through next Sunday at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

“I want to beat them bad ,” said Sean Henson, a pitcher and designated-hitter for Panorama City who had three hits and three runs batted in six at-bats for the day. “It seems like all we did was play them last year. Every time we turned around they were there.”

Dave Unter (6-1) went the distance against East, recording four strikeouts and surrendering 11 hits. East right-hander Chris Brown (10-4) also allowed 11 hits but struck out 10 in a losing effort.

“He’s pitched much better. This is not one of his classic games,” East Coach Matt Borzello said of Brown. “He got behind in the count and . . . was forced to throw certain pitches that were hit.

“All of his game was after the second inning.”

In the second inning Panorama City ripped Brown for five hits--including four doubles, three of which came consecutively--and scored four runs to take a 6-1 lead.

De La Maza (6-2) also was riding that bandwagon with his 11-strikeout, nine-hit effort through seven innings against Glendale.

“He pitched the best game I’ve seen him throw against anyone all year,” Glendale Coach Mike MacDonald said of De La Maza.