AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL / AREA 6 TOURNAMENT : Encino-Crespi Survives Westchester Onslaught

Like a punch-drunk boxer, Encino-Crespi pitcher Jorvic Salazar spent much of his afternoon on the ropes Friday.

Westchester had numerous opportunities to put Salazar down for the count, but each time he reached back for a little extra. As a result, Encino-Crespi prevailed, 7-6, in a second-round game of the American Legion Area 6 baseball tournament at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Encino-Crespi (22-8) will play Newbury Oaks, a 13-2 winner over Claremont, in a third-round game at 2 p.m. today. Westchester, meanwhile, is out of the double-elimination tournament.

In another game, Van Nuys-Notre Dame defeated Pomona, 9-8, and will play Claremont in an elimination game at 10 a.m. today. If Van Nuys-Notre Dame (27-4) wins, it will play the loser of the Encino-Crespi-Newbury Oaks game in another elimination contest at 6 p.m.

“I thought we were in a lot of trouble a couple of times there,” Encino-Crespi Coach Scott Muckey said. “Jorvic seems to have a way of working his way out of innings.”

Although Salazar (6-5) gave up 10 hits in 8 1/3 innings, Westchester did not exactly rock him. Four Encino-Crespi errors nearly proved his undoing, however, leading to four unearned runs.

Westchester committed one error, but the mistake played a major role in the game’s outcome.

With the score tied, 4-4, and one out in the top of the seventh, Westchester starter Brian Berri hit Rich Gonzalez and Jeff Herrera with pitches.

Salazar followed with a dribbler that first baseman Tremane Noles fielded cleanly, but in trying to force Herrera at second, he threw the ball into center field, allowing Gonzalez to score and sending Herrera to third.

Herrera scored on a wild pitch, and after Tim Taylor replaced Berri, Javier Avila singled, Darran McInerney walked, and Casey Snow singled to boost Encino’s lead to 7-4.

Westchester put runners on first and second with one out in the seventh, but Salazar got Travis Carrol to ground into a double play. “That got me out of what could have been a big inning,” Salazar said.

Westchester finally sent Salazar packing with one out in the ninth when Grant Hohman doubled off the wall in left-center field.

Brad Farlow came in from left field to pitch and promptly walked Noles. But Phil Ruhl grounded into a force play--as a run scored--and Carrol flied out to end the game.

Jeff Suppan, who tripled and homered in his first two at-bats, led the Encino offense.

In other tournament games:

Newbury Oaks 13, Claremont 2--Newbury Oaks banged out 19 hits--including five doubles and a home run--in the game that was called after seven innings because of the 10-run rule.

Tighe Curran (7-0) who picked up the win in relief Thursday, went the distance for Newbury Oaks (25-1) and hit his first home run of the season--a three-run shot down the right-field line--to give his team a 9-2 lead in the fifth.

Every Newbury Oaks starter had at least one hit, led by Robert Fick, who was four for four with a run scored and a run batted in.

Van Nuys-Notre Dame 9, Pomona 8--The winners took a 5-0 lead in the first inning, then withstood a three-run Pomona rally in the ninth inning to survive in an elimination game.

Dave Supple homered for Van Nuys-Notre Dame.