High School Baseball : Van Nuys Trips Monroe in 7th, 5-4

With his team trailing by a run and two out in the seventh inning, Mike Engler drove in two runs with a single to lift Van Nuys High over Monroe, 5-4, in a Mid-Valley League game at Van Nuys.

Engler’s game-winning hit was a ground ball that took a bad hop, ricocheted off shortstop Mike Enriquez’s shoulder into shallow left field and allowed Richard Dellavechia and Melvin Batrez to score.

Earlier in the inning, Monroe took a 4-3 lead when Josh Lawrence singled in Enriquez from third.

Engler was two for four with two runs batted in. Teammate John House was two for two. Tony Rolando and Tim Costic were both three for four for Monroe (4-2). Van Nuys improved to 5-1.

In other games:

San Fernando 11, Granada Hills 5--Richard Ortiz, Sunny Mercado, Roy Aguilara and Fernando Ortega each doubled for San Fernando in a North Valley League game at Granada Hills.

Hector De La Cruz (2-0), Jess Vasquez and John Najar combined on a nine-hitter for San Fernando (7-1-1, 4-1-1).

Starting pitcher Eric Clark (0-2) homered for Granada Hills (0-6).

El Camino Real 6, Canoga Park 1--Steve Smith allowed four hits and struck out eight for the Conquistadores in the West Valley League game at home.

Smith (1-1), a senior, pitched his first complete game of the season as El Camino Real won its first game after five losses.

The Conquistadores took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Bobby Kim and Smith hit consecutive sacrifice flies.

After scoring another run in the second, El Camino Real added two more in the third on Del Marine’s two-run home run.

Sylmar 19, North Hollywood 3--Tom Ball scattered six hits, struck out five and gave up one run in six innings in the East Valley League game at North Hollywood. Sylmar (4-2) scored 12 runs in the first inning and was never challenged.

Dereck Ornelas was three for three with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Nino Romo was three for three with three RBIs.

Birmingham 10, Reseda 7--With his team trailing, 7-6, Justin Bass knocked in the winning runs with a two-run home run in the seventh inning of the Mid-Valley League game at Reseda.

Notre Dame 6, Alemany 3--Bobby Hughes was three for four with three RBIs and picked up his first save as Notre Dame (10-1) captured the consolation championship of the St. Paul tournament at Blair Field in Long Beach.

Sophomore Steve Colella (4-1) allowed three runs in six innings to earn the win.

L.A. Baptist 7, Pasadena Poly 5--Dave Garcia and Shane Wright each doubled and singled to lead L. A. Baptist (7-1) in a nonleague game at Pasadena Poly.