Bringuier Tunes Up for 1999

It’s fitting that Jon Bringuier of Granada Hills hit a game-winning, three-run home run in the District 20 All-Star game to give the West an 8-5 victory Sunday night at Stengel Field.

If anyone is poised to break out next season, it’s Bringuier and the Highlanders.

Granada Hills hasn’t reached the City Section 4-A Division playoffs since Darryl Stroh retired as baseball coach in 1996, leaving behind a legacy of five section titles.

Steve Thompson, a former Chatsworth assistant, took over a program that had youth and not much else. Granada Hills was 8-19 in 1997 and 10-19 last season. The Highlanders won only nine Northwest Valley Conference games in the last two years.

“The first year was about survival,” Thompson said. “The second year was a little bit of a disappointment, but we had a few good moments.”

The turnaround could continue next season, when the Highlanders--led by Bringuier--return all but one starter.

Bringuier, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound first baseman, is batting .477 and leads District 20 players with seven home runs. In the high school season, Bringuier was selected All-City Section after batting .333 with seven home runs and 28 runs batted in.

Along with established hitters Dan Frisbee and Peter Gunny, Bringuier is playing at a high level. He was the only freshman on Stroh’s last team, which reached the 4-A quarterfinals.

“I learned a lot from that first season,” Bringuier said. “It’s tough that we haven’t gotten back to the playoffs, but we’re trying to change that.”

Bringuier is doing all he can. But hitting has never been Granada Hills’ problem. The Highlanders have lacked pitching and defense.

However, it has been an encouraging summer.

Granada Hills pitcher Peter Tuber was a star on the Northridge Little League team that advanced to the World Series championship game in 1994. He stopped playing baseball for two years to concentrate on music, before returning last season to limited success for the Highlanders. This summer, Tuber is 4-0 with a 2.84 earned-run run average.

Kameron Loe, a 6-8 right-hander, has pitched even better. He’s 3-1 with a 1.48 ERA and was selected to play in the Area Code Games next month. Loe and Tuber will be seniors in the fall.

The timing of Granada Hills’ improvement couldn’t be better. Kennedy, the defending North Valley League champion, graduated all but one starter, and second-place Cleveland needs to replace Max Santillan, an All-City selection who pitched and played second base.

Granada Hills won’t make the District 20 playoffs, but postseason futility could soon be a thing of the past.

“It’s time for us to make our move,” Bringuier said.

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Woodland Hills El Camino Real Coach Rob Bumgarner enjoys a distinct advantage over most Legion teams because he has a five-man rotation of quality starting pitchers.

With Kurt Birkins, John Koegel, Adam Sperling, Josh Deneau and Ryan Gunches at his disposal, along with several capable relief pitchers, Bumgarner isn’t worried about his team’s hectic schedule.

Woodland Hills El Camino Real scheduled its 26-game regular season in 30 days because the high school team’s season was extended by reaching the City Section 4-A title game.

“The schedule almost favors us because we just go with one [starter] each day, and no one throws more than twice a week usually,” Bumgarner said. “We’re really fortunate to have that depth. Hopefully it holds up through the playoffs.”

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The District 20 regular season concludes this weekend with eight teams--the five division winners and the three runners-up with the best records--qualifying for the district playoffs next week.

Tri Cities Highland, Woodland Hills El Camino Real, Newhall Saugus Hart, Van Nuys Notre Dame and Valley Chatsworth are division leaders. Encino Crespi, Central Valley Cleveland and North Hollywood Poly have the inside track for the wild-card spots.

* TOUCHING BASE

Brewer catcher Bobby Hughes visited his former Van Nuys Notre Dame Legion team. C9