Tujunga takes title

Peter Samore

NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Tujunga All-Star pitcher Blake Philbrook

didn’t give Foothill much of a chance to score Friday night.

Foothill’s 13- and 14-year-olds knew that coming in.

All Foothill could get from him were two hits and three walks. The

left-handed Philbrook retired the side four times.

With that, Tujunga beat Foothill, 5-0, at Scholl Canyon Park to win

the Little League District 16 Junior Baseball championship.

Foothill begins Sectional play at 10 a.m. July 21 in Encino against

the District 17 winner.

“We knew [Philbrook], and many of the coaches thought he was the best

pitcher all year,” Foothill Coach Richard Robbins said. “If he came out

on the mark, we’d have a hard time.”

Philbrook (2-0) threw 96 pitches, 58 for strikes. He completed the

game with nine strikeouts.

Foothill (2-2) had its best chance to score in the sixth, as Philbrook

started to slow down. An error and two walks loaded the bases with one

out, but Philbrook regained his composure retire the next two batters.

“I wasn’t tired and I loved the pressure,” Philbrook said about the

sixth inning. “I was throwing mostly fastballs and the curveballs helped

too. I’m glad we got it over with tonight.”

Said Tujunga Coach Edmund Delgado: “Blake’s been No. 1 all year. I

told him he’d have the ball and he took us all the way to the end.”

Tujunga (3-0) got to work right away with three runs in the first.

Philbrook walked, Will Cowan singled and No. 3 hitter Ryan Kruskamp

doubled both of them in.

Kruskamp crossed the plate on Derik Leiphardt’s groundout to make the

score 3-0.

Philbrook and Cowan each scored three runs and had four stolen bases

between them.

Foothill used starting pitcher Aaron Aragon for just one inning in

attempt to save Raul Perez for an if-necessary game today. However, Perez

pitched the last six innings, allowing two runs and striking out nine.

“Aaron’s curveball wasn’t working, and we brought in Raul,” Robbins

said.

Chris Hertz and John La had Foothill’s two hits, both singles. Hertz

reached base twice.

Tujunga*3*0*0*0*2*0*0*--*5*5*2

Foothill*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*--*0*2*4

Tujunga*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K

Philbrook*7*0*0*2*3*9

Foothill*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K

Aragon*1*3*3*2*1*1

Perez*6*2*1*3*3*9

Total*7*5*4*5*4*10

WP-Philbrook (2-0). LP-Aragon (0-2).

2B: T-Kruskamp, Leiphardt.

SB: T-Philbrook 3, Christopherson, Cowan; F-Soule.