PREP BASEBALL CITY 4-A : San Fernando Beats Banning and Busby, 3-2

Banning High’s Mike Busby, considered the top pitcher in the Southland, suffered his first loss of the season Friday night as San Fernando defeated the Pilots, 3-2, in the City 4-A Division championship game at Dodger Stadium.

Busby (11-1) relieved starter Mark Chavez with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and San Fernando ahead, 2-1. Banning tied it in the top of the seventh when Chavez drove in Jeff Harris.

With the score tied, 2-2, in the bottom of the seventh, David Rojas connected off Busby for a single to center field, scoring Abel Barajas with the winning run.

“I was just hoping to make contact,” Rojas said. “When I faced him before, I was just trying to make contact and I struck out about four times. It wasn’t a good hit. It was nothing to write home about.”

Said Busby: “He swung late, and it was just one of those things. I don’t consider it a hit, but they won the game.”

The victory was the first baseball championship for San Fernando, which opened in 1895. The title was the 19th in a row by a school from the San Fernando Valley in the large-school division.

The game was scoreless through three innings. The Tigers utilized a patchwork pitching staff, with Canto Franco starting. Raymond Rivera (3-1), their third pitcher, picked up the victory.