Rarefied Air for Huskies

North Hollywood High (10-2), off to its best start in recent memory, is believed to be seeking its first league baseball championship in 40 years.

Record-keeping has been far from meticulous at North Hollywood but Coach George Vranau said a week of research indicates the Huskies haven’t won a league title since 1957.

That season, North Hollywood won its only City Section title. The Huskies reached the City final in 1980, losing to Sylmar.

“We’ve been piecing it together,” Vranau said. “We had an alumni game here and we had 18 alums. They helped fill in the time periods.”

Record week: Hart High’s Ryan Wyman shot a five-under par 56 at Vista Valencia Golf Course on Monday to tie a school record four days after teammate Charlie Smith set a school record at DeBell Golf Course with a two-under 69.

Wyman, a sophomore, had six birdies and a bogey while shooting five-under par 26 on the front nine in a three-way match against Westlake and Valencia.

Westlake sophomore J.T. Kohut shot 58 in the same foursome.

Hart defeated Westlake, 316-318, in a battle of the area’s top two programs. They meet again Thursday at Camarillo Springs Golf Course.

Rising up: St. Genevieve has struggled for eight seasons, but second-year Coach John Yakel seems to have the baseball program moving in the right direction.

After a 20-3 season and San Fernando League title in 1988, the Valiants were 63-106 and did not have a .500 season from 1989-96.

The Valiants (7-6) play today in the small schools championship game of the St. Paul tournament.

“This school hasn’t played a meaningful game in years,” Yakel said.

Cautious approach: Camarillo (10-2, 2-0 in league play) was tied with Westlake for the Marmonte League baseball lead at the start of the week but Coach Scott Cline knows the season is young.

“Coming into the year I knew we’d swing the bat well but it all comes down to our pitching,” said Cline, who has been pleased with starters Joe Borchard, Ryan Geisler and Andy Alstott.

Cline warns about reading too much into Camarillo’s 18-1 rout of highly regarded Royal. Last season, the Scorpions were 8-0 in league play before losing two of three games and finishing second to the Highlanders.

“When it comes down to it, Royal will be there,” Cline said. “They’re going to throw [senior pitchers Mike and Matt Ranier] Wednesday and Friday and beat a lot of people.”

Fumbling Flashes: Fillmore (5-2, 2-0 in Tri-Valley League play) twice committed five errors in a game and lost.

But Coach Tom Ecklund’s fielding practice paid off against Carpinteria and Bishop Diego.

The Flashes made two errors in the first two innings against Carpinteria, none in the next 13.