Van Nuys Wins Title and Doubleheader

Van Nuys-Notre Dame pulled off a doubleheader sweep at Burroughs High on Sunday to win its third American Legion District 20 title in the past six years.

In the championship game, top-seeded Van Nuys scored six runs in the fifth inning en route to a 12-8 victory over Encino-Crespi. Both teams advance to the Area 6 tournament, which begins Thursday at UCLA.

With a guaranteed trip to the Area 6 tournament at stake, Van Nuys (26-3) won its first game of the day by forfeit over Valley North.

With the score tied 8-8 in the fourth inning and Van Nuys at bat, Valley North pitcher Brandon Nickens was ejected by base umpire Gene Kernan for arguing a call. Nickens fired the ball at Kernan, then shoved the umpire with both hands.

After umpires briefly conferred, the game was declared a forfeit victory for Van Nuys.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Kernan, who said he was undecided as to whether he would file assault charges. “His team was in the game and had a chance to play at the next level. I thought to myself, ‘This can’t be happening.’ ”

In the first game, Glen Carson and Chris Garza homered to help hand Van Nuys a 7-2 lead in the top of the third. Valley North scored six times in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-7 lead.

With a runner at first and a run across in the fourth, Carson looped a single to left that was gloved on a short hop by outfielder Alex Estrada. Kernan ruled that the ball had been trapped, and Nickens immediately challenged the call and was ejected.

In the second game, pitcher Mike Smith, Jasen McConaghy, Dave Supple and Carson each drove in runs in the six-run fifth for Van Nuys, which also won District 20 titles in 1987 and 1988.

Jeff Suppan had three hits for Encino-Crespi.