Cardona of El Camino Real is pitcher to watch

The ability to handle pressure situations might be the most important element of pitching. If you can’t calm the nerves and successfully throw a strike with the game on the line, then it’s time to switch positions.

At Woodland Hills El Camino Real, Randy Wolf, Kurt Birkins and Eric Pettis each thrived on pitching in pressure-filled games. Wolf and Birkins went on to pitch in the major leagues, with Pettis becoming the standout closer at UC Irvine. Each was the winning pitcher in the City Championship game at Dodger Stadium, and they had one other thing in common -- they beat West Valley League power Chatsworth in the final.

Now, there are subtle signs that the Conquistadores have another young pitcher in the mold of Wolf, Birkins and Pettis. His name is Jose Cardona, and he’s a sophomore right-hander with a special mound presence.

“He takes a deep breath and goes to work,” Coach Josh Lienhard said.

On March 26, the 6-foot-1 Cardona was one pitch away from delivering victory against Chatsworth. El Camino Real led, 2-1, in the top of the seventh when the Chancellors tied the score on a two-strike, two-out RBI single before winning it in 12 innings.

Cardona’s seven-inning performance was notable because it showed his poise and potential.

“It gave me so much more confidence,” he said. “Now I know what I’m capable of doing and the next time I face them, I know I’m going to shut them down.”

One test was how Cardona would react after coming so close to victory.

“He stayed positive, kept supporting his teammates and wasn’t flustered,” Lienhard said.

The Conquistadores always seem to play well behind Cardona, who has a 6-1 record with a 1.58 earned-run average in his first season on varsity. His strength is keeping the ball low while moving it in and out, which has helped him induce 63 ground-ball outs.

“He’s only going to get bigger, he’s only going to get faster, stronger and all three pitches are going to get better,” Lienhard said. “There’s a high ceiling for him.”

When El Camino Real was winning City titles in 1993, 1994 and 1998 behind Wolf and Birkins, the teams counted on their ace pitchers to get them through the nervous moments.

Former El Camino Real coach Mike Maio remembers Birkins, who went on to pitch for the Baltimore Orioles, coming into the dugout in the eighth inning against Chatsworth after the team gave up the tying run on an error in the 1998 final.

“I’m saying to myself, ‘What can I say so he doesn’t go south?’ ” Maio recalled. “He says, ‘It’s OK. We just want to play longer because we may never play at Dodger Stadium again.’ ”

The Conquistadores defeated the Chancellors, 5-2, in 10 innings, with Birkins striking out 12 and throwing a complete game.

“They were team ballplayers,” Maio said of Wolf and Birkins. “And the kids rallied around them.”

The same can be said of Cardona, who must cut down on his walks (he has 19 in 44 1/3 innings) and wild pitches (11), but he’s clearly a pitcher to watch in the coming years.

Six shutouts

The first round of Moore League play has been completed, and Long Beach Millikan has won every game by shutout.

“I’ve been thinking about it, and it’s pretty amazing,” Coach Scott Glasser said. “It doesn’t make sense not to give up a run.”

Junior Josh Frye and seniors Andrew Culver and Matt Clampitt have been the pitchers responsible. The streak started with a 2-0 victory over Long Beach Poly. Then came 5-0 over Long Beach Wilson, 14-0 over Long Beach Cabrillo, 18-0 over Compton, 17-0 over Long Beach Jordan and 2-0 over Lakewood.

“We’re throwing strikes, and we’re playing defense,” Glasser said.

Millikan is 13-9 overall.

Impressive athlete

The football combines have begun, with players showing up to run 40-yard dashes and make an impression with their athletic skills.

Dietrich Riley of La Canada St. Francis is a player who makes heads turn, whether at running back or his likely college position, defensive back. He has scholarship offers from USC and UCLA, and his coach, Jim Bonds, will put him up against anybody.

“Athletically, Dietrich is the best I’ve coached,” Bonds said. “On the defensive side, he is a great tackler and is our hardest hitter. You have to love contact to play defense, and Dietrich likes to punish people.”

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com