AMERICAN LEGION NOTEBOOK / STEVE ELLING : Players, Fans Display Errors in Judgment During Playoff Flare-Ups

The public-address announcer at Burroughs High on Sunday, mindful of what had taken place earlier that afternoon, lauded the efforts of the American Legion coaches and players from Van Nuys-Notre Dame and Encino-Crespi, who were about to square off for the District 20 title.

Fans applauded.

Sure, it was a polite clap, the kind typically generated by a golf gallery, but it was heartfelt nonetheless.

Terms such as good sportsmanship were used in the grandstands, replacing words such as embarrassing , which had been used a few hours before.

The previous 24 hours at Burroughs had been punctuated by behavior that some in attendance characterized as the worst they had witnessed at a ballgame in the San Fernando Valley.

A critical game Sunday morning between Valley North and Van Nuys-Notre Dame was forfeited in the fourth inning with the score tied, 8-8, when Valley North pitcher Brandon Nickens shoved an umpire. At stake was an automatic berth in the Area 6 playoffs, which begin Thursday at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

In contrast, the championship game later that evening went off without a hitch, with top-seeded Van Nuys holding on to defeat Encino, 12-8. The afternoon and evening games were examples of behavioral polar opposites.

After the forfeit victory was awarded to Van Nuys, shortstop Doug Dean of Valley North hurled his glove in the direction of the three-man umpiring crew and fired off a string of four-letter words. Dean then upended two trash barrels and challenged a Legion player from another team to a fight.

The action Saturday was nearly as deplorable. In a game between Valley North and Verdugo Hills, fans and police became involved.

It started when Dan Bir of Verdugo Hills was ejected in the bottom of the first inning for deriding a Valley North player. Bir, a reserve who was seated on the bench, wasn’t hard to spot: He was wearing the team’s “rally wig,” a platinum-blond, woman’s hairpiece.

As umpires discussed the ejection, a new argument broke out near third base. Verdugo Hills catcher David Fielder, who was on first base when Bir was booted, made his way to third.

Fielder spiked his batting helmet on the ground, made a move toward a Valley North player and both benches emptied.

Umpires interceded before any punches were thrown, but Fielder and Alex Estrada of Valley North were tossed.

A handful of vocal fans assailed the umpires for failing to “take control” of the situation, which prompted public-address announcer Terry Scott to suggest that some parents weren’t exactly setting a good example for their children.

The verbal volleys from the stands increased in intensity, whereupon Scott informed fans that the umpires had threatened to clear the stands if the backlash continued.

Fired back one fan: “You better bring help.”

Scott, the Burroughs baseball coach, climbed into the stands and was roundly blasted by a slew of insults. Scott phoned the Burbank Police Department, which dispatched two squad cars to the field. Several parents were interviewed on the sidewalk outside the stadium by police, but no arrests were made.

Valley North catcher David Stevenson remained behind the plate when the benches cleared Saturday, his jaw set as he shook his head and surveyed the melee.

“There’s no point in doing something stupid and getting thrown out of the game,” Stevenson said afterward. “This is our most important game of the year.”

Too bad others didn’t follow his lead. In the 12 District 20 playoff games held at Burroughs last week, 11 players and an assistant coach were ejected.

With this ring: Valley North Coach Pete Redfern wasn’t in attendance when his team forfeited to Van Nuys on Sunday. He was in Morro Bay, Calif., where he was married later that afternoon. Redfern left the team in the hands of assistants Chuck Hatfield and Reed McMackin.

Redfern phoned Hatfield on Monday for a report on Sunday’s game and was shocked at the news. “He thought I was kidding,” Hatfield said.

How much did the playoffs mean to Redfern? Said Redfern on Saturday: “My fiancee asked me where I wanted to go (for a honeymoon). I said I wanted to be at UCLA on Thursday.”

Hatfield, 71, said he was embarrassed by what took place against Van Nuys.

“It’s disappointing to the 13 or 14 other boys who worked hard all season,” said Hatfield, who coached the Sylmar team to a berth in the Legion World Series in 1973. “It blew up in their faces.”

Hatfield, who has been involved in youth baseball in the San Fernando Valley for 54 years, said the incident might prompt him to call it quits as a coach.

“I’ve been thinking awfully hard about giving it up,” he said. “Kids today are so danged hard to handle. I used to be able to control them, but I can’t anymore.”

Area 6 pack: Pairings for the first round of competition in the Area 6 tournament Thursday were finalized at a meeting of coaches Monday night.

At 10 a.m., Encino-Crespi will face Pomona.

At 2 p.m., Van Nuys-Notre Dame will play Newbury Oaks.

At 6 p.m., Claremont will play Westchester.

The double-elimination tournament will conclude Sunday. The winner will advance to the state tournament, Aug. 8-12, in Yountville.

Mighty mite: Jim Parque, take a bow.

The Verdugo Hills left-hander, 5-foot-5, 110 pounds, has heard more than his share of snickers in his career. But when he takes the mound, he is unflappable and the opposition usually pays the price for popping off.

In three District 20 playoff games, Parque gave up one earned run and seven hits over 9 2/3 innings. He earned a victory and was in line for a second when his teammates blew a lead in the ninth.

Dozens of knowledgeable baseball folks were impressed with Parque, who will be a junior in the fall at Crescenta Valley High. Parque routinely baffled hitters with his ability to mix speeds, set up batters and use the entire plate.

Said one scout: “I love this guy. He has better mechanics than half of the pitchers in the majors.”

Said another: “Just think how tough he’d be if he was about 6-4.”