Kennedy Turns Up an Ace, Beats Thousand Oaks

Kennedy High’s Robert Montesdeoca knew he would be the first relief pitcher for the Golden Cougars in Friday’s San Fernando Valley tournament game against Thousand Oaks.

He just didn’t count on being needed so soon.

Kennedy starter Keith Brydon walked the first five batters he faced, forcing Coach Manny Alvarado to turn to Montesdeoca with the bases loaded and one out.

Montesdeoca restored order by striking out the first four batters he faced, and the Golden Cougars went on to a 6-3 victory.

“I wasn’t feeling any pressure at all,” Montesdeoca said. “I felt very relaxed and I wasn’t the least bit nervous.”

Despite control problems, Brydon, Montesdeoca and sophomore Jon Garland didn’t allow a hit until the seventh inning. The trio did give up 10 walks.

“We’ve got to take advantage when we get the bases loaded,” Thousand Oaks Coach Jim Hansen said. “We needed to get the momentum early and we couldn’t come through.”

After Kennedy’s Terrmel Sledge scored on George Kassis’ single in the top of the first, Thousand Oaks (4-2) was only able pull even with the five walks.

Kennedy catcher Kevin Serr gunned down leadoff batter Bill Sperry on an aborted steal attempt, but after four more walks and two wild pitches, both over a foot above the batter’s head, Alvarado had seen enough.

“Keith just didn’t have anything going at all,” Alvarado said.

Montesdeoca (1-0) got the second out on a called third strike to Mike Lauer, then struck out Scott McEwan to end the Lancers’ threat.

Kennedy (5-1) took the lead for good in the third inning when Sledge scored from third on a wild pitch by Thousand Oaks starter Santos Mummey (1-1).

The Golden Cougars increased the lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Sledge, his first of the year.

In the fifth, Serr singled and took second on a wild pitch before Ryan Lane loaded the bases by hitting Aldo Pinto and Brydon with pitches. Brent Hirsch came on to walk Andy Montes, scoring Serr.

Kennedy scored in the seventh on singles by Kassis, Garland and Montes.

Sperry got the Lancers’ first hit, a single, with runners on first and second and one out in the seventh.

After Garland struck out Hirsch, Ryan Holmes appeared to clear the bases with a double off the center-field wall, but Sperry was thrown out at the plate to end the game.