CITY SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Sylmar Stops El Camino Real in Quarterfinal

Sylmar High exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning Friday and defeated El Camino Real, 8-2, to advance to the City Section 4-A Division baseball semifinals.

It was the eighth victory in nine games for Sylmar (21-6), the East Valley League co-champion. Sylmar will face San Fernando, a 7-3 winner over Birmingham, in Tuesday’s semifinals.

James Encinas (7-2) went the distance for Sylmar, allowing six hits and no earned runs while striking out three.

Encinas also went two for two at the plate, driving in a run.

El Camino Real (12-10) scored its runs in the first when Gregg Sheren’s fly ball got past center fielder Dereck Ornelas. Sheren and a runner ahead of him came around to score on the error.

Sylmar chased loser Jason Sipperly in the fourth, getting a two-run single from Robert Garcia and a two-out, three-run triple by Cain Camarillo, who had two hits.

Sophomore Mike Smith had two doubles for El Camino Real.

San Fernando 7, Birmingham 3--David Rojas singled, doubled, tripled and scored three times to lead San Fernando (15-10) past the Braves (14-11) in a 5-A Division quarterfinal playoff game at Birmingham.

San Fernando’s Canto Franco (5-4) allowed seven hits and struck out seven through 6 2/3 innings before being relieved by sophomore Raymond Rivera, who struck out the only batter he faced.

The Tigers led, 7-1, in the seventh before Birmingham rallied for two runs with two out. Max Saucedo had two hits for the Braves.

Jose Nunez went two for three with three runs batted in for the Tigers.

Banning 5, Monroe 0--Mike Chavez fired a one-hitter as Banning shut out its second consecutive opponent and advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals, in which the Pilots will meet Poly at a neutral site to be determined.

First baseman Nole Toledo singled in the second inning for Monroe’s lone hit.

Banning (19-6) chased Monroe starter Adrian Lovrich in the sixth, scoring all five of its runs in the inning.

Monroe finished the season at 14-8.