Baseball: Kennedy takes over first place in Valley Mission
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Granada Hills Kennedy pulled out an improbable 14-10 victory over San Fernando on Thursday to take over first place in the Valley Mission League. The Golden Cougars are 6-2, a half-game ahead of Sylmar (5-2) with two games to play.
The Golden Cougars trailed, 9-8, with two out in the top of the seventh when Andrew Hernandez struck out to seemingly end the game. But the ball got away from the catcher, and Hernandez reached first. Kennedy went on to score six runs in the inning to complete a two-game sweep of the Tigers. Hernandez earlier hit a three-run home run.
Sophomore Chris Mallon went three for four and Robert Gonzalez added a triple for the Golden Cougars, who are 11-12 overall but own victories over the top two teams from the West Valley League, Chatsworth and El Camino Real.
In the East Valley League, first-place Arleta (20-4, 9-0) defeated North Hollywood, 17-0, in five innings. Manny Guzman went four for four with a home run and triple. Andres Coll had five RBIs.
In the Marine League, San Pedro (19-4, 7-1) set up a first-place showdown with Banning for next Tuesday after a 12-1 win over Washington. Ronnie Galosic, Anthony Canjura and Danny Matienzo each had two hits. Banning (19-6, 8-0) defeated Carson, 15-2. Alex Sixtos threw four shutout innings with six strikeouts. Jonathan Hernandez was three for three with five RBIs.
In the Mission League, Ryan Brockett struck out three and threw a five-hitter as Encino Crespi (19-4, 6-2) defeated Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 5-2. Crespi moved into a tie for first place with West Hills Chaminade. Ryon Healy drove in two runs. Los Angeles Loyola defeated North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, 10-3.
-- Eric Sondheimer