Johnson & Johnson Too Much for East

A five-run eighth inning carried the West to an improbable 9-6 victory over the East in the 23rd Bernie Milligan All-Star baseball game Saturday at Stengel Field.

The West didn’t have a baserunner until Billy McGrath of Birmingham High walked with one out in the fifth. Kevin Howard of Westlake had the West’s first hit with a single in the sixth.

The West finished with six hits--only one for extra-bases--while the East had 13, including two-run home runs by Tim Balkey of Crescenta Valley and Mike Suarez of Canyon.

But the West made the most of opportunities.

“It was kind of scary there for a while,” pitcher Tyler Johnson of Newbury Park said. “I was wondering if we were going to come around. But I just had a feeling we’d win the game.”

Johnson, one of 17 pitchers used, struck out the side in the ninth to record a save in relief of winning pitcher Ryan Gunches of El Camino Real, who worked the eighth.

Johnson, who hit a two-run double to cap the eighth, was selected the game’s most valuable player.

“I don’t know why we took so long--maybe the guys stayed out too late last night,” said Chuck Berrington of Westlake, West co-coach. “But they had some really good pitchers. That Sylmar kid was throwing smoke.”

Ivan Hernandez of Sylmar struck out the side in order in the second. Starter Jordan Olson of Crescenta Valley pitched a perfect first, Justin Wiley of Hart a perfect third, Justin Babin of Saugus a perfect fourth.

East pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts.

“I think a lot of the pregame stuff had a lot to do with it,” Howard said. “It wasn’t like a regular game. There was a home-run hitting contest and we really didn’t get a chance to prepare.”

The East broke a scoreless tie in the third on Balkey’s homer with John Manuel of Poly on first. In the sixth, Suarez’s shot with Francisco Enriquez of San Fernando aboard made it 4-0.

Howard’s single in the sixth after a leadoff walk by Tim Leveque of Crespi ignited a four-run rally for the West against Ryan Cowsill of Notre Dame.

Steve Kracow of Chatsworth hit a two-run single in the inning and Scott Sellz of Chatsworth drove in a run on a ground out. Garett Michaels of Westlake scored on a passed ball, one of several in the game.

“The catchers struggled a bit because they had never caught these guys,” said Phil Torres of Crescenta Valley, East co-coach. “But it was really fun to watch these kids. It was a pleasure working with them all week.”

The East took a 6-4 lead in the seventh. Mike Arvizo of Littlerock doubled off Peter Tuber of Granada Hills, driving in Juan Guerrero of Poly and Tim Hutting of Hart.

In the eighth, the West batted around against losing pitcher Phil Polanco of Notre Dame and Travis Allen of Quartz Hill.

Jon Bringuier of Granada Hills, who won the pregame home run competition, was hit on the head by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in the first run of the inning.

Bringuier suffered a cut above his left eye and had to leave the game. Torres said he did not appear seriously hurt.

Polanco walked Nick Hillman of Agoura to force in the tying run. He committed a balk with the bases loaded, allowing Gunches to score. Johnson’s double provided an insurance run.

In the ninth, Johnson struck out the first two batters, allowed a single to Babin, then struck out Mike Hewson of Lancaster.

“I watched their hitters and saw what they were doing,” said Johnson, who was 6-5 with 73 strikeouts in 61 innings this season. “I like to study the hitters.”