Cleveland Cooked After Coach Hits Boiling Point

Cleveland High pitcher Mike Schultz was the first to wilt in the heat Wednesday afternoon against Kennedy.

He was followed shortly after by the Cavalier defense. Finally, Cleveland Coach Steve Landress just boiled over.

Landress was ejected by home-plate umpire Randy Bergman in the bottom of the fifth inning after arguing a dead-ball call. Kennedy was leading, 9-0, and was awarded the victory, which clinched the North Valley League title for the Golden Cougars (21-3, 11-0).

After Landress turned away from the umpire following a brief argument, he uttered an obscenity and was thrown out. Under City Section rules, when a head coach is ejected, the game is declared a forfeit.

“This is wrong,” Landress said. “I did not curse at the umpire.”

For three innings, Cleveland (13-9, 6-6) played better than in Monday’s 14-1 loss to Kennedy. Schultz (5-3) walked five batters but did not allow a hit and kept the Golden Cougars scoreless.

But in the fourth, Nick Intenzo tripled, followed by a double by Omar Pinto. A single by Josh Miranda and double by David Soto gave Kennedy a 3-0 lead.

Kennedy starter Jon Garland allowed three hits over five innings and didn’t face more than five batters in an inning.

“I like pitching in the heat because it keeps me loose, but I was keeping cool on the bench,” Garland said. “I could see if you get a couple of big hits and you have to stay out there, the heat could affect you.”

Garland (5-1) led off the fifth with a home run to left field, his sixth, and Adam Rofer followed with a single. Schultz (5-3) momentarily recovered to strike out Omar Pinto but was pulled for Vince Kolbe after a single by David Lusk.

The Cavaliers proceeded to commit three errors, including two on one play.

After Cleveland shortstop Junior Brignac dropped a throw from catcher Casey Roth on a stolen-base attempt, he misjudged a popup by Christian Bartlett that dropped in the middle of the infield. After Brignac threw to first, Vince Zuniga threw the ball into a row of fans seated beyond third base.

Landress argued that the ball was still live, but Kennedy Coach Manny Alvarado said he explained in a pregame meeting with the umpires that the area was dead.

“I don’t know if he was awake at the meeting but I explained it was a dead area,” Alvarado said. “There’s a bench there for spectators. If a ball is thrown there, it’s dead and it’s two bases.”

The umpires agreed, sending Bartlett to third base and provoking Landress’ outburst.

“It started off as a quality game,” Alvarado said.

“But its a shame it has to end like this. This overshadows a lot of good performances.”