Serna’s 2-Hit Shutout Puts San Fernando in Tie for 1st

Frank Serna gave it his best “I-never-had-a-doubt-about-it” grin. After hearing Serna’s sort-of-sincere explanation, his coach, Steve Marden, couldn’t help smiling, too.

With San Fernando High holding a one-run lead in the sixth inning of Thursday’s Mid-Valley League baseball game against Granada Hills, the Highlanders had runners on first and third and two out. Serna threw a beach ball-sized fastball to Kevin Carmichael, who hit a line drive to center that, had center fielder Josh Bergara not caught it, would have caused Bergara grievous bodily harm.

Once Serna realized Bergara had the ball in his sights, he removed his hat, mockingly wiped his brow, turned and smirked at Marden.

“I got it under control, coach,” Serna said with a laugh. “That’s what I have Josh out there for.”

After his heart again started beating--and the game had finally ended--Marden had to admit there was plenty to laugh about. In beating Granada Hills, 1-0, with a complete-game two-hitter, Serna (2-0) picked up his second victory in four days, moving the team into a tie for first with the Highlanders at 8-2 in league play.

Serna walked 3, struck out 2 and faced just 24 batters. In a game that lasted 1 hour, 40 minutes, Serna needed only 89 pitches. He had the Highlanders under control? More like under hypnosis.

All of which drew nothing but a zombie-like response from Granada Hills Coach Darryl Stroh.

“Go talk to the other team,” Stroh muttered. “Just say Darryl Stroh was (expletive) off and had nothing to say.”

The Granada Hills bats didn’t sound off much, either. After Serna had faced the minimum number of batters through four innings, Sean Brown broke up the no-hit bid with a single to center to open the fifth. Darryl Stephenson, trying to sacrifice Brown to second, laid down a perfect bunt between Serna and Tiger third baseman Alfred Nevarez. Stephenson was safe at first without drawing a throw, giving the Highlanders runners on first and second with nobody out.

For about two seconds.

Brown, who rounded second in anticipation of a throw to first, was caught off base by Nevarez.

“We always tell the infielders to keep their eyes open,” said Marden, who was wide-eyed for most of this one. “That was a big, big play. If he doesn’t get the runner at second, who knows what happens.”

For Granada Hills, what happened next was even worse. Charlie Fowlks grounded meekly into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. And Serna, who had allowed back-to-back hits, still had faced the minimum through five innings.

San Fernando (8-4, 8-2), however, was having a tough time with right-hander Jeff Adams (7-2), who allowed only seven hits. After stranding six runners in the first four innings, the Tigers finally managed to string three hits for a run in the fifth.

Bergara, who was 2 for 4, led off with a ground single to left. After faking a bunt, Richard Ortiz singled past a diving Fowlks at short. Bergara, running on the pitch, scooted to third.

Albert Torrez followed with a ground ball to third baseman Steve Kovacic, who, after trying to hold Bergara at third, threw too late to first to get Torrez. Bergara beat first baseman Kurt Lowry’s throw to catcher Nile Bloom.

Suddenly, with Serna--academically ineligible for the first 10 weeks of the semester--San Fernando may have the edge in the league race.

“I think with Frank, we’re better than those guys,” said Bergara in his own what-me-worry mode. “We’re right where we need to be.”