HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Royal High pitcher Jason Urquidez is academically ineligible.

Urquidez, a transfer from Chaminade, was 2-1 with a 0.80 ERA in six games for the Highlanders. He threw a no-hitter and one-hitter.

“I’m really frustrated and let down,” Urquidez said.

Urquidez was 7-4 with a 1.54 earned-run average as a sophomore at Chaminade and slumped to 3-2 with a 4.14 ERA as a junior.

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Westlake High Coach Chuck Berrington has experimented with several different lineups this season, but adding outfielder Luke Riordan to the second spot provided immediate results for the Warriors on Friday against Royal.

Riordan, a left-handed power hitter who has signed with Cal State Northridge, went three for four with four runs batted in, including his fourth home run of the season, in Westlake’s 10-2 win over the Highlanders.

The win moved Westlake (11-3-1, 4-1-1) percentage points ahead of Royal (12-3, 5-2) and into first place in the Marmonte League.

For the time being, Riordan will serve as a catalyst for Tyler Adamczyk and Mike Nickeas, the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters.

“He can spray the ball or sit back on one,” Berrington said. “We want him to be an RBI guy, but he can also be a contact hitter.”

Riordan, who is batting .390, had a hit-and-run single to drive in a run in the first inning. He also had a home run.

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Nordhoff junior Travis Flowers earned a reputation as a workhorse last summer in nine-inning games of American Leagion.

Flowers has carried over that stamina to this season, where the hard-throwing right-hander has emerged as the Frontier League’s best pitcher.

Flowers (3-1) has 57 strikeouts in 35 innings and has a 0.80 earned-run average.

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Few would have suspected Andrew Berkovich, who has 21 RBIs, to emerge as Camarillo RBI leader.

Playing in a program that has traditionally produced quality hitters and in a ballpark that is favorable to hitters, Berkovich has out-slugged established hitters Delmon Young and Brad Boyer, who have battled injuries, and Justin Peterson.

Berkovich, a junior, has two home runs and is batting .458.