Las Virgenes East Wins on Back-to-Back Errors

It took a lucky break for the bottom half of the Las Virgenes East lineup to finally reach base in its American Legion District 20 opening-round playoff game against Panorama City.

But when the players did, it made the difference.

With runners on first and third with two out in the bottom of the 11th inning and the score tied, No. 6 hitter Jessie Slade hit a sharp ground ball to shortstop Sigi Arroyo.

Arroyo tried to force Manny Mosqueda at second base but his throw sailed over Phil Allsup’s head, allowing Las Virgenes East to pull out a 4-3 victory at Birmingham High on Wednesday.

Las Virgenes East will play Central Valley in a winner’s bracket game today at 7 p.m. at Burroughs High.

Panorama City (21-6) will play Palmdale in an elimination game at 4 p.m. today at Burroughs.

Before Slade’s at-bat, the final four hitters in the Las Virgenes East lineup were a combined zero for 16.

It was the second error in as many at-bats for the Panorama City infield. Seth Barkley misplayed a ground ball by Mosqueda. Pinch-runner Jarrod Schwartz advanced to third on the play, scoring five pitches later.

Las Virgenes East entered the 11th inning trailing, 3-2, but Brian Fatur manufactured a run after a leadoff single off reliever John Wilson (1-3). Fatur stole second and third base before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Darin Reisman.

“Speed kills,” said Las Virgenes East Coach Scott Drootin. “He’s almost automatic to score every time he gets on.”

Las Virgenes East (22-5) couldn’t manufacture much of anything against Panorama City starter John Ennis, who grew stronger as the game progressed.

Ennis struck out 12 batters, walked two and allowed five hits in 10 innings. He retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced before he was replaced by Wilson after throwing 127 pitches.

Las Virgenes East countered with the combination of left-hander Rick Stockton and right-hander Brandon Cohen (6-2).

Stockton, Las Virgenes East’s best pitcher, allowed six hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Cohen relieved Stockton with runners on first and second and one out in the fifth, escaping without a run. He gave up three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Cohen’s only mistakes came in the top of the 11th. After a leadoff single by Josh Highsmith, Cohen misplayed consecutive sacrifice attempts, leaving the bases loaded with none out.

Cohen allowed a sacrifice fly by Sergio Franco but got out of the inning without further damage.

Central Valley 8, Palmdale 4--A bases-loaded triple by Jared Mills in the eighth wiped out a 4-3 Palmdale lead and gave Central Valley a 6-4 edge in a first-round game at Valley College.

Central Valley (23-4) added two runs in the inning on a fielder’s choice and an RBI-single by Tom O’Brien.

Charlie Booterbaugh had two hits and Corey Briggs took the loss for Palmdale (18-9).

Van Nuys East 22, Woodland Hills West 21--Jorge Piedra pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth and Kevin Jerkins pitched out of a jam in the ninth to clinch a first-round game at Burroughs High continued from Tuesday because of darkness.

Van Nuys East plays Valley North today at 4:30 p.m. at Birmingham High.

Newhall-Saugus 13, Woodland Hills West 3--Brian Baron’s grand slam highlighted a six-run sixth inning at Burroughs High.

Baron finished with four hits and five RBIs. Woodland Hills West was eliminated.