Orme Shakes Off Jitters, Beats Valley North, 3-2

West Hills pitcher Joel Orme didn’t need to shake anyone’s hand after he beat Valley North, 3-2, in an American Legion District 20 Western Division baseball game Wednesday at Chatsworth High.

His hands were shaking quite nicely by themselves, thanks.

“I’ve been waiting for this game the whole year,” Orme said. “They were undefeated and I live right up the street and know most of these guys.”

Valley North, which won its first 13 games, started a new streak by beating West Hills, 16-5, in the second game of the doubleheader.

Orme (4-0), a Chaminade senior-to-be, held Valley North to five hits despite a severe case of nerves. He struck out seven and walked none.

“We made his career today,” Valley North center fielder Mark Lopez said. “We made his life.”

Orme also contributed to the winning run, leading off the fourth with a double. He was replaced by courtesy runner John Cromwell, who scored on Brandon Gray’s single, giving West Hills (7-7) a 3-2 lead against Rick Staves (3-1). Orme allowed only one hit the rest of the way.

“We came back in the second game and showed them we could hit a little,” Lopez said.

Valley North scored 11 runs in the fifth inning, breaking a 5-5 tie and forcing the game to be called because of the 10-run rule. Valley North (14-1) took advantage of six walks and two errors in the inning. Mike Jimenez, who had two singles, was the only Valley North player with multiple hits in the game.

West Hills first baseman Jason McLean was unable to play the second game after Ben Yosfan slid into his left shin on the final out of the first game. McLean said he probably will see a doctor today.