HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SAN FERNANDO TOURNAMENT : Lights Go Out on Grant’s Rally, 4-3

Canto Franco will get the win in San Fernando High’s 4-3 victory Wednesday over Grant in a first-round game of the Tigers’ own tournament. Mother Nature, however, should get the save.

Franco, a senior who entered the game in relief in the fifth inning, gave up two runs in the seventh to make the score 5-4 in Grant’s favor.

But when the game was called because of darkness with the bases loaded and nobody out, the score reverted to the totals at the end of the sixth.

“There is no way we should have won this game,” San Fernando Coach Steve Marden said. “They outplayed us in every phase of the game. They should get the victory, but the rule book says that we get it. If there was any way I could give it to them, I would.”

Interestingly, Marden was more upset with the Tigers’ win than Grant Coach Tom Lucero was with the Lancers’ loss .

“It should have been called when it was,” Lucero said. “It was for safety reasons. There’s no use getting any kids injured right now with league starting in a couple of weeks.”

Grant, which had jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second inning before falling behind, 4-3, at the end of five, opened the seventh with two singles and a double off Franco--who gave up six hits in his two-inning stint--to tie the score, 4-4.

Erik Morante’s infield single loaded the bases and Grant scored again when Juan Velazquez was hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run before the game was called.

“We left a lot of guys on base, but I’m happy with the way we hit the ball,” said Lucero, whose team had nine hits and stranded nine runners in the six official innings.

Ron Carver and Brandon Long each had two hits for Grant.

San Fernando, the defending North Valley League champion, scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the 4-3 lead.

Luis Rodriguez and Damacio Mendoza had consecutive walks with one out, and Rodriguez scored when Grant pitcher Holvik Castro fielded a sacrifice bunt by Ethan Rodriguez and threw the ball over the first baseman’s head.

James Woods, who committed two errors and dropped a foul ball while playing third base for San Fernando, redeemed himself with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring pinch-runner Raymond Rivera with what became the winning run.

In other first-round games:

Poly 3, Franklin 1--Jake Loveridge threw a three-hitter for Poly in the game at home.

Loveridge, who walked two, hit a batter and struck out four, threw just 80 pitches. He retired the side in order four times.

Poly right-fielder Jesus Perez was three for three and teammate Raul Torres added two hits.

Narbonne 4, Kennedy 1--Armando Cervantes struck out 13 and walked none in five innings for Narbonne in a game at Kennedy.

Kennedy scored in the first inning when John Davis singled home Troy Bourne. Mike McMullen took the loss for Kennedy, which mustered just four hits.

Birmingham 4, Granada Hills 3--Lester Echeverria’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning provided visiting Birmingham with the winning run.

Mike Belasco was two for three for Birmingham.

Heath McElwee, Sam Voita, Ari Jacobs and Darryl Stroh each had two hits for Granada Hills.