Fullmer Uses Glove to Punch Out Runner

Most coaches will take an out any way they can get it. Few, however, would expect to record one in the manner of Channel Islands High during a 9-2 loss at Royal on Friday.

Royal’s Dan Izquierdo led off the sixth by hitting a chopper that was backhanded by Channel Islands pitcher Chris Fullmer. The ball stuck in the webbing of Fullmer’s glove, and Izquierdo neared first base as Fullmer frantically attempted to dislodge it.

Finally, Fullmer desperately tossed his glove--with the ball still in the webbing--to first baseman Javier Rios in time to retire Izquierdo.

As the crowd roared in laughter, Channel Islands Coach Don Cardinal could only shake his head and smile. Royal Coach Dan Maye left the dugout to present the first base umpire with a mild, good-natured protest.

“I just asked the umpire if (Rios) had control and wasn’t bobbling the glove,” Maye said with a grin.

BAD BOUNCE

Camarillo volleyball Coach Bob Cornelius warns players each season about the dangers of certain extracurricular activities.

“We tell our players to be careful with what they do away from volleyball,” Cornelius said. “Don’t do anything risky like playing one-on-one basketball, riding a motorcycle or jumping out of an airplane.”

Add to that list trampoline jumping.

Middle blocker Vince Anderson strained ligaments in his right shoulder while jumping on a trampoline at a family Easter gathering and missed a pair of Marmonte League matches last week. Anderson had been averaging eight kills and seven blocks a match.

Andy Wade, playing in place of Anderson, had nine kills and three blocks in a three-game victory over Westlake. Cornelius hopes to have Anderson back this week.

BEAN BALL

Birmingham right-hander Corey Litwin developed a new delivery in the off-season, but it seems there are still a few kinks to be worked out.

In 10 pitching appearances this year, Litwin has hit 13 batters--including 12 in the past eight games.

“And he’s not doing it on purpose either, I swear,” Coach Dave Contreras said.

Litwin (1-6), a senior right-hander who throws sidearm, has on occasion single-handedly taken himself out of the driver’s seat with bean balls.

“Of the 12 kids that he’s hit, 10 have had two strikes on them,” Contreras said. “It didn’t used to be funny, but it’s starting to get that way.”

A SWEDE’S SWING

It was shaping up as a rebuilding year for the Moorpark golf team when a gift appeared from the heavens. Or more accurately, from Sweden.

Fredrik Appel, a senior foreign-exchange student, showed up on campus and told coach Damian Wilkerson that he wanted to join the team. Since Wilkerson’s team was expected to consist solely of freshmen and sophomores, he had nothing to lose.

Appel has emerged as the best player in the Tri-Valley League. Moorpark is tied with Cate for first with a league mark of 10-2.

Appel, who has the classic Nordic look, seems to be acclimating. He shot a three-under 68 at Elkins Ranch in Fillmore on Monday and has Wilkerson giving thanks.

“He’s got those Swedish, godlike features,” Wilkerson said. “And he hits it godlike.”

TAKING A DIVE

After winning 16 of its first 18 games and gaining the No. 1 ranking in The Times’ regional poll, Channel Islands lost two consecutive games last week. The Raiders began the week in a tie with Royal for first place in the Marmonte League but awoke Saturday morning to find themselves in a third-place tie with Newbury Park.

On Wednesday, ace Angel Aragon (7-2), who has signed a letter to attend Cal State Long Beach and perhaps is the league’s best pitcher, dropped a 5-4 decision to Newbury Park.

Friday, the Raiders suited up without two injured starters and stumbled to a 9-2 loss to Royal. Second baseman Sam Monroy was spiked and needed 20 stitches to close a gash, and outfielder Brian Ortiz sustained a broken nose while playing football in a physical education class.

“We’re battling for a playoff spot now,” Cardinal said. “It’s going to be a long struggle. We’re 16-4, so we’re not terrible. But we sure are playing like we are.”

SELECT COMPANY

Miguel Diaz had a choice to make.

As a junior, he could either play full time for the Kennedy junior varsity or stay with the varsity and spend a lot of time in the dugout. Diaz decided he would rather play.

“He knew if he was up with us he’d just be splitting time,” Kennedy Coach Manny Alvarado said.

Diaz, a pitcher and catcher, started with the junior varsity, but when the Golden Cougars’ varsity pitching faltered, Diaz was promoted.

“All of a sudden, there was no choice,” Alvarado said.

Diaz has answered the call. Entering the week, Diaz was 4-0 with an earned-run average of 2.42.

HANGING IN THERE

Losses are beginning to pile up for Chaminade, which has fallen in 17 consecutive games.

Entering the week, the Chaminade staff ERA stood at 6.69. Throw in 52 unearned runs and it is easy to see how the Eagles five times this season have scored nine or more runs and lost.

The mood doesn’t seem too downbeat, however. Chaminade (3-18) was hammered by Bishop Amat, 30-9, Saturday and yielded 26 hits.

Said assistant Dave Desmond: “You score nine runs, you would hope you’re not gonna lose by more than 20.”

INQUIRE WITHIN

The new Foothill League, consisting of Burbank, Burroughs, Canyon, Hart and Saugus, has frustrated a few football coaches who have been left without an opponent for one week because of the revamped league’s odd-man-out, five-team configuration.

“It’s a pain in the tail,” Saugus Coach Jack Bowman said. “We’re not absolutely sure who we’re going to play. It’s very difficult to find a 10th game, very difficult.”

Bowman is trying to schedule a game against Paramount of the San Gabriel Valley League, but the deal has not been finalized because both teams insist on playing at home, Bowman said.

“Now, we’re trying to check out some City teams,” Bowman said.

Hart Coach Mike Herrington had less difficulty in scheduling Lompoc of the Northern League. “We knew that that league up there also was a five-team league,” Herrington said.

Burbank will play Santa Maria, and Burroughs has scheduled Rialto of Fontana.

“I’m hoping this league does not stay like this because it’s not just football I have trouble with, it’s all the other sports,” said Burroughs Coach Marty Garrison, who also is the school’s athletic director. “All I can say is, it’s not been easy.”

Canyon Coach Harry Welch said he looked high and low before scheduling Mary Star of the Sea, a small parochial school in San Pedro with an enrollment of 250.

Mary Star of the Sea?

“I couldn’t find anyone else, period,” Welch said. “If you find anyone with a bye, let me know.”

MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT

According to his coach, San Fernando pitcher John Romero is talented enough to have the North Valley League in the palm of his hand. Right along with his fastball.

Romero, a junior right-hander, has the best arm on the San Fernando staff but has had trouble finding the strike zone. First, Coach Steve Marden tinkered with Romero’s delivery--he now throws only from the stretch.

“He was all ankles and elbows up there and it was throwing off his balance,” Marden said.

That helped to some degree. Marden also ordered Romero to take something off the fastball to help establish more control. Marden changed Romero’s grip--he now holds the ball farther down in his hand.

Over the past few weeks, Romero has emerged as the staff’s best pitcher. He is 4-1 and has allowed only eight earned runs in 28 2/3 innings. Romero has struck out 27, walked 23 and is the lone Tiger pitcher to have recorded more strikeouts than walks.

BIGFOOT

The preseason loss of Bryan LaCour left some big shoes to fill at Chatsworth. Size 15, to be specific.

LaCour, a sophomore and a projected starter in the outfield, suffered a broken fibula in his right leg in a preseason intrasquad game. He was out for the first two months but is four for six in his first two games as a designated hitter. “He’ll be back in there full time as soon as he’s ready,” Coach Tom Meusborn said.

Chatsworth (10-9, 6-5) could use a lift from LaCour, who at 6-feet-1, 180 pounds could prove to be one of the team’s biggest hitters over the next two seasons. Especially if he continues to fill out.

“I hope he grows into his feet,” Meusborn said.

DIFFERENT VERSIONS

About the only thing Grant Coach Tom Lucero and North Hollywood Coach Rick Pally will agree on concerning last week’s East Valley League baseball game is the final score: Grant 29, North Hollywood 1.

After Grant scored 11 runs in the first inning, Pally assumed Lucero would rein in the Lancers.

According to Pally, Lucero did not. In the mid-to-late innings, Grant batters were bunting for singles, and the Lancers continued to run amok on the base paths.

“When he (instructed his players to bunt) in the third inning . . . I couldn’t believe it,” Pally said.

Lucero denied that the Lancers were stealing bases as late as the fifth inning. “You have to advance on a passed ball,” he said.

Said Pally: “That’s just the way some people are.”

IS NOT ENOUGH

The Canoga Park baseball team knows frustration.

In two of their past three games, the Hunters (2-12) have scored 10 runs--and lost.

“It’s tough,” Coach Jim Smith said. “Especially when you’re giving away five or six runs a game.”

Last week Canoga Park trailed Van Nuys, 10-0, after three innings, rallied for 10 runs in the last four innings and lost, 12-10. One week earlier, Canoga Park trailed Grant, 14-4, in the sixth before losing, 15-10.

“Inexperience is a lot of it,” Smith said of the team’s four-error per game average. “There are four or five guys that didn’t even play JV last year.”

David Coulson and staff writers Steve Elling, Vince Kowalick, Paige A. Leech and Jeff Riley contributed to this notebook.