HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Outfielder Bobby Baca of Granada Hills went eight for eight in the Highlanders’ two-game sweep of El Camino Real in a West Valley League series last week.

More impressive was the pitching of senior Eddie Degerman, who struck out 14, including nine in a row, during an 11-2 victory.

Degerman has 54 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.

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Birmingham (11-4) will play in the championship game of its own tournament tonight at 6:30 p.m. The Patriots likely will face San Fernando (13-2) in the final.

Both schools have to play four games in Las Vegas later this week, so their pitching staffs will be tested.

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Kevin Malone, general manager of the Dodgers, watched several innings of last week’s Foothill League game between Valencia and Hart. He lives in the area and is friends with the father of Hart pitcher Chris Burrows, who allowed one run in five innings.

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Emerging as one of the region’s most promising freshman players is third baseman Matt Aidem of Valencia. He hit a game-tying home run in the sixth inning against Hart on Friday.

“His maturity level is pretty phenomenal,” Coach Jared Snyder said. “He’s an advanced player.”