Kennedy Floored by Flores’ 10-K Run

Senior right-hander Alberto Flores tossed a five-hitter and struck out a season-high 10 batters to lead Birmingham High to a 3-1 upset over Kennedy in a Northwest Valley Conference baseball game Thursday at Birmingham.

It was the first loss for the Golden Cougars (13-6, 5-1) in their past 23 conference games.

Flores (5-2) has struck out 23 and allowed only six hits in his past 16 innings. Kennedy’s run in the seventh snapped a 20-inning scoreless streak by Flores.

Aaron Minor had a run-scoring triple in the fifth and scored on a throwing error.

Jon Garland and Josh Miranda each had two hits for Kennedy.

Poly 12, Reseda 11--The Parrots (10-9, 5-1) scored three runs in the seventh to force extra innings, then scored three more in the eighth to win the Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Reseda.

Reseda played the last two innings with eight players because Coach Mike Stone used all of his players by the sixth inning and made an illegal substitution in the seventh.

Reseda had the potential winning run on first with two out in the seventh, but Poly ended the inning by walking two batters intentionally to bring up the missing player’s lineup spot--an automatic out.

Taft 7, Granada Hills 0--Jeff Spector (2-1) and Mike Turnette combined on a three-hitter, and Daniel Scott and Yarone Peters each had two hits and drove in two runs for the Toreadors (11-5, 4-2) in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Taft.

Ryan Long had a double and scored three runs for Taft.

Sylmar 8, Monroe 1--Ivan Hernandez (4-2) allowed two hits in six innings and struck out eight, and Carlos Gonzalez had two hits and scored two runs for the Spartans (9-6, 6-0) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Monroe.

North Hollywood 2, Van Nuys 1--Victor Solis (3-0) surrendered a double to Angel Barajas and a triple to catcher Brian Lee in the first before settling down, allowing one hit thereafter for the Huskies (14-2, 6-0) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Van Nuys Park.

Ismael Rangsiyawong doubled to score Jerrit Redlich with the winning run in the sixth.

Canoga Park 6, Grant 3--Kevin Carlsen (2-3) pitched a five-hitter with six strikeouts, and also had two hits and scored two runs for the Hunters (3-9, 2-4) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Grant.

Brett Kanders had two hits and knocked in two runs for Canoga Park, which has won two in a row.

Cleveland 6, El Camino Real 4--Santiago Esparza drove in two runs with two hits for the host Cavaliers (8-7, 4-2) in a Northwest Valley Conference game.

Jared Mills (3-2) earned the victory by allowing four runs on four hits in five innings.

Verdugo Hills 18, Belmont 2--The Dons (6-1, 5-1) hit five home runs in a Northern Conference victory at Belmont (0-6, 0-6). Jason Hovestreydt had five hits, including two home runs, and drove in five runs. Ian Carson (3-0) allowed one hit in five innings.

Camarillo 10, San Marcos 3--Joe Borchard hit two home runs, Shane Miranda hit one homer and Andy Kroneberger went four for five for the Scorpions (14-3-1) in the Santa Barbara tournament.

Simi Valley 12, Oxnard 5--John Whipp had four hits and scored two runs, Andy Karp had two hits and four RBIs, and Mike O’Neal had three hits and three RBIs for the Pioneers (10-5) in a nonleague game at Simi Valley.