Birmingham Gets Favorable Notices for Night Games

Night baseball finally came to Birmingham High last week, and the early reviews are promising.

“It was pretty fun,” said Poly pitcher Joe Hampel, whose team defeated Sylmar, 7-5, on Friday. “We felt it was like going back to Dodger Stadium.”

More than 200 spectators filled the bleachers for the nonleague game, including many parents who are not able to attend day games because of work.

Birmingham played the first night game Thursday against Carson. The lights were supposed to have been completed by March 1, but rain caused a delay.

“It was great,” Birmingham Coach Rick Weber said. “I think it’s a great thing for high school baseball.”

Weber is offering the field to any school for night games. Chaminade is expected to switch its Mission League game next Tuesday against Crespi to Birmingham.

Some coaches have expressed concern about giving up a home game to play under the lights, but Sylmar’s Gary Donatella said he welcomes the chance.

“That field is in the best shape I’ve seen since Wayne Sink was coaching there,” Donatella said. “It’s a nice atmosphere and it gives some people a chance to see a game they might not be able to see.”

Poly catcher Josh Wheeler said the only problem he noticed with the lights was a blind spot down the right-field line. But that should be corrected this week after officials use a meter to determine where to aim the lights.

Night games also should help Birmingham’s booster club increase revenue at its concession stand. The school made $320 at the Poly-Sylmar game and there are plans to build a permanent concession stand.

The next night game is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. between Birmingham and El Camino Real.

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The Sunset Six League has become the Sunset Five for baseball after Hollywood dropped its varsity program last week when five of its 12 players were declared academically ineligible. Teams will be forced to take byes for scheduled games against Hollywood.

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Is Cleveland (7-1) ready to challenge Chatsworth (8-0) in the West Valley League? The Cavaliers will find out this week when they play a two-game series against top-ranked Chatsworth, beginning today at Cleveland.

“It’s going to be a good showdown,” Cleveland Coach Joe Cascione said.

Cascione, who played baseball at St. Genevieve and Pierce College, has rebuilt the Cavaliers’ program in his second season behind three impact transfers--first baseman Matt Jordan from Van Nuys, outfielder Steve Boyer from Granada Hills and pitcher Mike Goodman from Granada Hills.

Cleveland’s strength is defense. Shortstop Robert Marcial and third baseman Nick Arroyo lead a team that has made only three errors in eight games.

Cascione and Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn agree that the West Valley League is the toughest in the City Section. El Camino Real (5-2), Granada Hills (4-3) and Birmingham (4-3) also figure in the mix.

Chatsworth went 15-0 in league play last season, but Meusborn warned “it will be awful difficult” to duplicate that feat.

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Burroughs (5-1, 1-0 in league play) could challenge Hart in the Foothill League because of the development of senior pitchers Fidel Valdez and Justin Creadick.

Valdez converted to a submarine-style pitcher this season and has allowed no walks in 12 innings with an 0.58 earned-run average.

The 6-foot-3 Creadick, a former golfer, had eight victories last season on the junior varsity team. He has yet to allow a run in 11 varsity innings and is 3-0.

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No one has more impressive pitching statistics than junior left-hander Jake Coash of Canyon. He’s 2-0 with 33 strikeouts in 16 innings and an 0.88 ERA.

The 6-5, 215-pound Coash hasn’t pitched against Canyon’s top opponents, but that should change in Foothill League play.