HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Ask Coach Steve Thompson of Granada Hills High if he feels like he’s coaching a group of players from the raunchy 1989 movie, “Major League,” and he’d probably invoke the 5th Amendment right to remain silent.

Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that the Highlanders’ off-the-field troubles have ended.

“On the field, we’re playing real well,” Thompson said. “Off the field, there’s been too many distractions, but we’re making it through.”

Granada Hills (15-8, 6-4 in the West Valley League) has won eight of its last 10 games to move into a tie for second place with Birmingham.

The Highlanders would be three games out of first place if they hadn’t forfeited to last-place Taft in March after several players were disciplined for their involvement in a locker-room shower incident.

Eleven Granada Hills players faced disciplinary action last month in Las Vegas for allegedly consuming alcohol. The team will be required to attend an alcohol abuse education program.

“I think they have [learned a lesson] this time,” Thompson said. “They made a poor decision and they’re paying for it.”

The Highlanders demonstrated last week they are a dangerous team when focused. They swept Cleveland behind strong pitching performances from Eddie Degerman and Jonathan Beal.

All-City infielder Ryan Braun is on a hitting tear, raising his average to .394. Mike Seiser has 26 runs batted in.

If pitching remains consistent, Thompson believes the Highlanders can be a threat in the City playoffs.

“I think we can make a serious run at it,” he said.

*

Here’s another reason coaches should not be involved in team rankings.

Chaminade, with an 18-3 record, is unranked in the Southern Section Division IV coaches’ top-10 poll this week.

“Obviously, they have no respect for the Mission League,” Coach Scott Drootin of Chaminade said.

*

Umpire Gil Perez has been selected to work behind home plate in the City Championship game June 5 at Dodger Stadium. It will be his seventh final.

The all-Valley crew will include Ron Brown at first base, Joe Gutierrez at second and E.T. Arellano at third.