Peterson Spearheads Van Nuys-Notre Dame Drive Toward Playoffs

Now that the end of the season is near, Van Nuys-Notre Dame pitcher Mike Peterson has finally found some consistency. Consistency with his fastball. Consistency with his curve. Consistency with his bat.

Wednesday, his team’s quest for a playoff berth was the main beneficiary of that consistency.

Peterson tossed a three-hit shutout and went 2 for 3 with an RBI, putting Van Nuys-Notre Dame one step closer to American Legion District 20 postseason play with a 2-0 victory over Woodland Hills (East).

The top two teams in the three divisions, plus two wild-card teams, advance to postseason play in District 20. After Wednesday’s action, Van Nuys-Notre Dame (16-9) is tied with Burbank for first place, a half-game ahead of Encino-Crespi in the Eastern Division.

The regular season ends Saturday with Van Nuys-Notre Dame at home against Granada Hills. Encino-Crespi meets Newhall-Saugus (Hart) and Burbank is at Studio City.

Peterson (4-1) threw his fastball for strikes regularly on first pitches, and the Woodland Hills (East) batters never threatened, advancing only one runner, pinch-runner David Anzivino, past second base. Anzivino, was thrown out at home in the fifth inning.

“Everything was working well, the fastball, the curve. I didn’t have to go to the split-finger,” Peterson said. “When you get to playoff time, all the teams get tough.”

“We just wanted to get runs any way we could,” Van Nuys-Notre Dame Coach Jody Breeden said.

In the fourth, Van Nuys-Notre Dame’s Chad Ratliff reached base on a bad-hop infield single, went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on Chris Lohman’s ground ball. Jeff Antoon then hit a sinking liner to center that was caught by Brett Reisner as Ratliff tagged up and scored easily for the first run.

In the sixth, Antoon reached on shortstop Chris Inglehart’s error, and two outs later, pinch-runner Mickey McGuigan scored on Peterson’s single.

Peterson then retired the last six batters to secure the victory.