IVAN THE TERRIFIC

Quality pitchers abound in the City Section 4-A Division baseball playoffs.

Kurt Birkins of El Camino Real High, Jack Cassel of Kennedy, John Ennis of Monroe and Mike Kunes of Chatsworth are all capable of leading their teams to Dodger Stadium for the June 11 final.

But none may be more valuable to his team than Ivan Hernandez of Sylmar.

“It’s like we’re a better team when he pitches,” catcher Mario Pacheco said of the junior right-hander. “We hit better, we field better. We all step up because [Ivan’s] out there.”

Pacheco should know. Besides his role as battery mate to Hernandez, Pacheco is the other starting pitcher for the Spartans.

Despite a sometimes lackluster offense, Sylmar won a three-way battle in the East Valley League and is the second-seeded team in the 4-A playoffs, which begin today. Hernandez, 16, will be on the mound when the Spartans (20-6) host Palisades (18-13).

The playoff format is perfectly suited to the Spartans, with a week off between the semifinals and championship game. If everything breaks right for Sylmar, Hernandez--the region leader with 105 strikeouts--would start three of four games.

Which is just the way he wants it.

“I want to be there on the mound every game,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez has reason for motivation. He remembers the sting of not playing last year.

Hernandez was Sylmar’s most promising pitcher as a sophomore, compiling a 5-2 record with a 2.37 earned-run average in the first half of the season.

But he missed the league season and playoffs because he was academically ineligible. Initially, the Spartans rallied without Hernandez, but faded to third in league play and lost to Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs.

“I felt I could make a difference,” Hernandez said. “It all happened after we came back from Las Vegas [where Sylmar played a tournament over spring break]. I wasn’t missing class, but I wasn’t paying attention.

“I made a big mistake and wound up letting everyone down. Mentally, I’m much better now.”

Hernandez attended most home games while he was ineligible. He has done better in the classroom this year.

“Some of the guys really gave him a hard time,” Coach Gary Donatella said. “I still get on him to keep up with schoolwork if he wants to have a shot at a Division I school. He could take classes just to stay eligible, but he’s taking the chemistry, algebra, English lit.”

The maturing process has extended to the mound, although Hernandez is still learning. He often was wild early in big games, but he became dominant after settling down.

With many scouts watching his matchup against Ennis, Hernandez struck out a career-best 13 and finished with a six-hitter in a 5-2 victory over Monroe.

In the first inning of Sylmar’s first game against rival Poly, Hernandez threw an 88-mph fastball, about five mph faster than his normal velocity, but struggled with his control.

He recovered and retired the last nine batters, finishing with a four-hitter in a 7-2 victory that broke Sylmar’s 10-game losing streak to the Parrots.

With the league title at stake last week, Hernandez struck out 11 and allowed four hits in a 4-1 victory over North Hollywood.

All were complete games.

“I love those type of games,” Hernandez said. “I’m not going to back away from a challenge.”

When he runs into trouble, Hernandez draws inspiration from colorful phrases he has written inside the bill of his cap.

His season numbers bear out his success. Hernandez is 9-2 with a 1.55 ERA, second-best among City Section pitchers from the region.

Hernandez pitches in a deliberate style, preferring to take his time. When he gets ahead of a batter, he’ll nibble the corner, looking for the third strike.

With runners on base, he frequently tries a variety of pickoff moves. During his windup, it sometimes seems it takes forever for him to release the ball. Even low-scoring games can take three hours.

“We like to have a quick rhythm,” Donatella said. “We don’t throw the ball around the infield after every out, stuff like that.

“But sometimes Ivan has his own rhythm. But it works for him.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Today’s Matchups

CITY SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

First round

All games at 3 p.m.

* (16) Van Nuys at (1) Chatsworth

* (9) North Hollywood at (8) Monroe

* (12) San Pedro at (5) Westchester

* (13) Venice at (4) Kennedy

* (14) Taft at (3) Carson

* (13) Poly at (6) El Camino Real

* (10) Cleveland at (7) Banning

* (15) Palisades at (2) Sylmar

( ) Seeds in parenthesis