Sports : THE LAW OF AVERAGES

Harry Jenkins never doubted his ability, just his luck.

After more than two decades of coaching, West Torrance’s Jenkins is leading a team to the Southern Section Division III championship game.

“I wanted one before I was done,” said Jenkins after the Warriors cruised past La Serna, 10-4, Tuesday at Recreation Park in El Segundo.

Jenkins, who is in his fourth season at West after 19 years at Redondo, hugged his players after the victory. It marked his third semifinal appearance (1979, ‘88) and first with the Warriors.

As much as overcoming this hurdle meant to him, Jenkins tried to hide his uneasiness from his players. “But the kids knew,” he said. “And that’s why they hugged me.”

Junior Kirk Bolling, who hit a solo homer in the first inning for West, said he and his teammates joke around about Jenkins’ past efforts at reaching the finals. But he added that his coach never let on about how important a title berth was to him.

“He doesn’t want to put us under any pressure,” Bolling said.

Bolling, who played third base Tuesday, will put his 10-2 mark on the line as the starting pitcher in the finals against La Quinta (27-3), ranked fourth by The Times. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.

After Tuesday’s victory, Jenkins raved about winning pitcher David Delgado, who hurled a complete game and gave up four earned runs--all on a third-inning grand slam--and six hits. Delgado (9-1), who won his third game in the playoffs, struck out four and walked four.

The Warriors (25-6), who average over eight runs a game, scored six in the final four innings. Grady Sain’s single with two outs in the fourth scored pinch-runner John Daquero to give West a 5-4 lead. In the fifth, Scott Wells gave West some breathing room with a two-out, two-run double.

Realizing all too well that it could be another 23 years before he returns to the championship game, Jenkins knows exactly what he wants for his 48th birthday Sunday.

“I’ve been wanting this for a long time,” he said. “And here it is.”

PITCHER PERFECT

Putting Kerry Martin on the mound is like following a Thomas Bros. map: They will get you where you want to go.

Improving her record to a stellar 22-4, Martin, a sophomore pitcher, scattered three hits in leading Redondo to a 5-1 victory over South Hills Tuesday in the Division III semifinals at San Dimas High.

The Sea Hawks (23-7) final challenge will be St. Lucy’s, which beat South Torrance, 1-0, Tuesday. The championship game is at 5 p.m. Saturday at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

Despite another sparkling outing, Martin’s 40-inning scoreless streak in the playoffs was snapped in the fourth inning when she gave up a run-scoring single. As a result, Martin’s earned-run average “jumped” to 0.20 from 0.17. She has given up only five earned runs in 171 innings. Her most impressive highlight was a 17-inning, five-hit shutout against Woodbridge in a 1-0 second-round playoff victory.

“She gives you a tremendous amount of confidence,” Seahawk Coach Paul Collette said.

Also propelling the Sea Hawks was senior catcher Jennifer Rios, who went four for four with a run batted in and a stolen base. In four playoff games, Rios is eight for 16. Junior left fielder Selena Fine added three hits in four at-bats.

The Sea Hawks, who were co-champions in the Ocean League with Culver City with a 10-2 record, became the first team from that league to advance past the first round.

“I am not surprised,” said Collette, in his third year. “I thought our team had a good chance of going all the way. We came off a really good season last year with Kerry Martin as a freshman. We were young and didn’t have enough experience. This year we have six seniors, five of them are starting. We felt this is our year.”

Any chances for an All-South Bay title game were scrapped when South Torrance lost to St. Lucy’s. Spartan pitcher Rachelle Brown gave up six hits, including a single in the fourth inning that scored the game’s only run. The Spartans (18-9) had runners in scoring position in the last three innings but couldn’t take advantage. They had only three hits.

“When you win three games, you get on a roll and it’s tough to take a loss,” second-year Coach Dan Baker said. “I’m really proud of our team. We came a long way this year. We didn’t make it into the playoffs last year.”

ALL-STAR GAME I

The West Torrance Lions Club will stage its 29th annual all-star football game, which will feature the area’s best seniors, at 1 p.m. June 11 at Harbor College.

The teams will be coached by Mike Walsh of San Pedro and Dan Robbins of Hawthorne. Walsh and Robbins selected the players, including running back Jeffrey Williams of San Pedro, linebacker Jesus Gutierrez of Banning, tight end Rudy Casillas of Leuzinger and cornerback Rocky Jackson of North Torrance.

The game was moved up to try and get more players and fans to attend. Tickets are $7 with proceeds going to charity.

ALL-STAR GAME II

The area’s top seniors have been selected to play in the 25th annual South Bay Athletic Club All-Star baseball game at 7 p.m. June 10 at Recreation Park in El Segundo. The Blue team will be coached by Jerry Lovarov of San Pedro and Harry Jenkins of West Torrance. Tim Ammentorp of Redondo and Rudy Garbalosa of Bishop Montgomery will coach the Red squad.

Rosters:

BLUE--Pitchers: Brian Bowles (Peninsula), David Reed (El Segundo), Jose Hernandez (Gardena). Catchers: Gary Sloan (San Pedro), Matt Pevic (Redondo), Casey Glynn (Mira Costa). Utility: Paul Weeks (South Torrance), Ollie Turner (Torrance). Infield--Morgan Ensberg (Redondo), Derek Nicholson (West), Kirk Mayer (El Segundo), Mike Luera (Bishop Montgomery), Henry Jones (Westchester). Outfield: Ron Pimentel (Hawthorne), Daks Blanks (Carson), Dana Harrison (St. Bernard), Ryan McCloskey (El Segundo), Mike Margolf (Peninsula).

RED--Pitchers: Scott Albin (Redondo), Eric Fuller (Bishop Montgomery), Arin McCarthy (Peninsula), Tim Harper (San Pedro). Catchers: Rod Washington (Westchester), Rene Soto (Inglewood). Utility: Steve Rawson (Redondo), Israel Villela (Narbonne). Infield: Domonek Prince (Redondo), Mike Poor (El Segundo), Marco Estrada (El Segundo), Joe Intermill (West), Paul Lopez (St. Bernard), Geraldo Jiron (Leuzinger). Outfield: Kendrick Wallace (Carson), John Gonzalez (Banning), Art Martinez (Leuzinger), Seka Edwards (Westchester).

NOTABLE

* Former Mira Costa standout Erika Stevens has been named an assistant coach for the Loyola Marymount women’s volleyball team. Stevens, who played the past four seasons at Pepperdine, helped Mira Costa win the 1989 state title when her name was Erika Lawson. She is married to former Loyola volleyball player Terrence Stevens.

* Jim Harris, a backup point guard for Loyola Marymount’s basketball team, will transfer to another school, according to reports. Harris played behind another freshman, former South Torrance standout Jimmy Williamson, last season.

* Barbara Stephan of Torrance took second in the recent Los Angeles City women’s golf tournament at Rancho Park. Stephan, who won the Los Angeles City senior championship last year, shot a three-round score of 231 to finish five strokes behind winner Andrea Gaston of Canoga Park.

* Joe Joffino, a fifth-grader at Towers Elementary School in Torrance, has been selected to play for the East-West Baseball Ambassadors team that will compete in a tournament in Italy this summer.

FLYING

The Gardena High girls’ track team raced to the City Section team championship last Thursday at Birmingham High. With 75 points, Gardena breezed by Dorsey and Westchester, which tied for second with 47. In the sprints, senior Lataya McCarthy of Gardena won the 100 (12.3) and 200 meters (25.59), and anchored the team’s victories in the 400 and 1,600 relays.

THIS AND THAT

* The Peninsula Racquet Club is holding registration for its 12th annual junior tennis program. The instructional sessions, eligible to boys and girls ages 7 to 17, begin June 20. Information: (310) 541-2523.