Carter Gets Kennedy Out of Jam and Into Tie for 1st

As Kennedy High pitcher Shawn Carter walked to the mound in the seventh inning of a North Valley League baseball game against Granada Hills on Wednesday, his thoughts raced elsewhere.

Taking the mound in relief for the second time in three days in a strikingly similar situation, Carter was determined to win the battle this time.

It didn’t come easily, but Carter retired three of the four batters he faced to shut the door on visiting Granada Hills and save a 5-4 victory for Kennedy.

The victory pulled Kennedy (18-7 overall) even with Granada Hills (15-6) for the league lead at 10-6 with one game remaining. The teams were league co-champions last season.

With Kennedy holding a precarious 5-3 lead, Carter inherited a none-out, bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Faced with a similar situation against San Fernando on Monday, Carter walked in the winning run in the eighth.

“That was in my mind, but I tried to put it in the back of my head,” Carter said. “I was just trying to stay relaxed.”

After allowing a run-scoring bloop single by Robbie Weinzimer, Carter retired the next three on an infield popup and two strikeouts.

Carter, the third relief pitcher Kennedy used, rescued the Golden Cougars by throwing strikes, which was too much to ask of the two pitchers before him.

Kennedy starter Tom Manning (7-4) scattered four hits through five innings and left with a 5-0 lead after walking two batters to open the sixth.

Tavarus Logie and Matt Talia issued four more walks and hit a batter in the final two innings to let the Highlanders back in the game.

“They did everything they could to give us the ballgame, and we were too bad to take it,” Granada Hills Coach Darryl Stroh said.

Logie walked three in the sixth, forcing in two runs to pull Granada Hills within 5-2.

In the seventh, Sam Voita hit a double off Talia to drive in Gaby Halcovich, who walked to lead off the inning. After Talia hit Gary Matthews in the foot with a curve, he was pulled in favor of Carter.

With the bases loaded and the tying run at third, Carter struck out sophomore pinch-hitter Danny Martin swinging on a full-count fast ball, low and outside, to end the game.