Cleveland Gets Even With Kennedy

Vince Zuniga’s three-run triple highlighted an eight-run fifth inning during Cleveland High’s 8-0 victory over Kennedy in a Northwest Valley Conference baseball game Thursday at Cleveland.

Oscar Fernandez pitched a three-hitter, had eight strikeouts and picked off three runners for Cleveland (11-9, 7-4), which pulled into a first-place tie with the Golden Cougars in the North Valley League.

Wes Crown did not allow a hit through four innings for Kennedy (15-9, 7-4), but Cleveland came alive with Zuniga’s triple and a two-run double by Justin Savitt.

El Camino Real 11, Birmingham 4--Kurt Birkins had a three-run home run and pitched six strong innings for the Conquistadores (12-8, 7-4) in a Northwest Valley Conference game at El Camino Real.

Joel Morales had three hits for El Camino Real.

Birkins (1-0) struck out eight, allowing two runs and eight hits.

Billy McGrath had three hits for Birmingham (14-11, 6-5).

San Fernando 5, Granada Hills 3--Eddie Flores and Alex Esqueda each had two hits for the Tigers (11-10, 2-9) in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Granada Hills.

North Hollywood 7, Sylmar 5--Ismael Rangsiyawong hit his ninth and 10th home runs for the Huskies (19-4, 9-2) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at North Hollywood.

Cesar Soto (4-2), who scattered six hits and struck out five, hit a solo home run in the third inning to give North Hollywood a 6-5 lead. Soto allowed two baserunners the rest of the way.

Sylmar (13-7, 10-1) is ranked ninth in the region by The Times.

Poly 9, Grant 6--Gus Banuelos had a two-run single during a four-run seventh inning for the Parrots in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Grant.

Mike Preski struck out nine batters in 4 1/3 innings for Poly (14-10, 9-2) before he was relieved by Jaron Brignac.

Hugo Godinez had three hits and two RBIs for Grant (8-13, 5-6).

Verdugo Hills 20, Eagle Rock 14--Jason Hovestreydt (2-0) pitched the final 3 1/3 innings and hit a three-run homer in a seven-run sixth for the Dons (10-1, 9-1) in a Northern Conference game at Sunland Park.

Hovestreydt drove in four runs and scored four.

Jerry Brehme drove in five runs and scored four runs on three hits for Verdugo Hills.

La Canada 16, Blair 2--Bobby Matthews was four for four with four RBIs for the Spartans (5-8-1, 4-3-1) in a Rio Hondo League game at La Canada.

Eric Hing (2-3) pitched a two-hitter and struck out eight.

Viewpoint 16, Ribet Academy 1--Chaney Sheffield pitched a four-hitter and struck out 16 and the Patriots (8-5, 5-0) stretched their Heritage League winning streak to 30 games, at Ribet.

Sheffield has 113 strikeouts in three years and 46 this season, both school records.

Moorpark 8, Nordhoff 2--Chris Doan and Taylor Slimak hit two-run home runs for the Musketeers (11-8, 6-3) in a Frontier League game at Nordhoff.