Van Nuys Is Shown Up by Ventura

For only the second time this season, the curtain closed early on showtime.

Van Nuys Show Ball, the top collection of American Legion players in the region, arrived at a playoff game Thursday with a 25-1 record, a bevy of hitters and pitchers, and a strong sense of destiny.

It left with a 4-3 loss to Ventura, which came up with the timely hits and a solid pitching performance from Gilbert Infante in the first round of the Area 6 playoffs Thursday at Birmingham High.

Ventura didn’t exactly bludgeon Show Ball, but came up with key singles--bloop, infield or otherwise--in the late innings.

That the game came down to the wire was a surprise to nobody who has seen Ventura (20-8) play. Ventura has lost five games and won eight in the last inning, said Coach Brian Harrison.

“That’s the character of this team,” said Harrison, whose team plays Valley Chatsworth in the second round tonight at 6 at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

The sixth and eighth innings were typical for Ventura. In the sixth, Ventura scored two runs on an error, three singles--one a bloop to right field, another an infield hit--and a sacrifice fly.

In the eighth, Ventura scored two runs on a walk and three singles. The go-ahead run was scored on a single by Eric Robinson that bounced off first base and trickled in between first and second, scoring Stefan Klock from second.

Infante (6-2), who will be a senior at St. Bonaventure, didn’t have the greatest statistics, striking out three and allowing nine hits, but he did not allow an extra-base hit in nine innings.

“I give the game ball to their pitcher,” said Coach Jody Breeden of Van Nuys. “We’re a pretty potent offense and we weren’t [Thursday] . . . for the second time in 2 1/2 months.”

Alec Moss and Felipe Tettelboin each had two hits for Show Ball, which isn’t through yet.

Show Ball plays Ojai-Santa Paula today at 2 p.m. in the second round of the double-elimination tournament at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Valley Chatsworth 5, Westside 4--Jared Halpert scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Halpert reached base on a one-out single. Halpert stole second, advanced to third on an overthrow by the catcher and scored on an overthrow to third base by the center fielder.

Halpert and Danny Dominguez each had two hits for Chatsworth (21-6), which was outhit, 16-8.

Ojai-Santa Paula 3, Santa Monica 0--Travis Flowers pitched a six-hitter and struck out eight for Ojai.

John Hill hit an RBI single in the third inning to open the scoring for Ojai (23-5-1).

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American Legion Area 6 Playoffs

Thursday’s Results

Game 1: Ojai-Santa Paula 3, Santa Monica 0

Game 2: Valley Chatsworth 5, Westside 4

Game 3: Ventura 4, Van Nuys Show Ball 3

*

Today

At Jackie Robinson Stadium

Game 4: Santa Monica vs.

Westside, 10 a.m.

Game 5: Van Nuys Show Ball vs.

Ojai-Santa Paula, 2 p.m.

Game 6: Valley Chatsworth vs.

Ventura, 6 p.m.

*

Saturday

At Jackie Robinson Stadium

Game 7: Loser of Game 5/6 vs.

Winner Game 4, 10 a.m.

Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs.

Winner Game 6, 2 p.m.

Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs.

Loser Game 6/8, 6 p.m.

*

Sunday

At Jackie Robinson Stadium

Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs.

Winner Game 9, Noon

Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs.

Loser Game 8/10, if necessary, 4 p.m.