Legion Win Gives Encino a Berth in Area 6 Field

It was game that needed extra seasoning like a jalapeno sandwich needs a dash of Tabasco.

In a contest already rife with tension, Encino-Crespi Coach Scott Muckey caused more eyebrows to rise, more foreheads to wrinkle and more teeth to grind.

“It added a little spice to the game,” Muckey said.

In a game that went down to the last out, Encino-Crespi scored three times in the top of the ninth inning Friday to pull out an 8-6 victory over Verdugo Hills in the third round of the American Legion District 20 playoffs at Burroughs High.

The victory assured Encino-Crespi--which has won 17 district games in a row--a berth in the Area 6 playoffs next week at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

But not before Muckey had his say.

Verdugo Hills held a 6-5 lead when Encino’s Joe Turner lined a pinch-hit double to the fence in right-center off reliever J.R. Workman to start the ninth.

With one out, cleanup hitter Jeff Suppan stepped to the plate, and Verdugo Hills Coach Kelly Magee ordered Workman to issue an intentional walk. That meant Magee was putting the go-ahead run on base, but Muckey did his best to turn down the opportunity.

As Workman threw the first two pitches to catcher David Fielder, Suppan swung weakly and the umpire rang up a pair of strikes. Encino fans were half-shocked and more than a few wondered whether Suppan knew that his swings were being recorded.

It was all a move by Muckey to get Workman to throw Suppan a strike. It didn’t work. Suppan, who was 0-for-2, eventually trudged to first, setting the stage for Kyle Carden.

“Carden is a good hitter and all, but I’d rather have Suppan up there swinging with a runner at second that Carden up there with runners at first and second,” Muckey said. “If he hits into the double play, well. . . .”

Carden was not offended in the least. He fouled off a pair of 3-and-2 pitches, then proved equal to the task. “I liked the situation, personally,” Carden said.

Carden, who already had two hits, ripped a single to center to drive in pinch-runner Eric Otey, who ran over Fielder at the plate as he scored, allowing Suppan and Carden to advance to second and third.

“You’ve got to do that,” Magee said of his decision to put Suppan on. “I don’t care what anybody says. What’s his batting average? How many home runs does he have? How many RBIs?”

Plenty, to rank among district leaders in all three categories. And add another run scored too. With the score tied, 6-6, Suppan scored on a slow roller to short by Rich Gonzalez and Encino (20-6) swiped another run when Carden and Gonzalez executed a first-and-third double steal for an 8-6 lead.

Verdugo Hills (22-4) had scored once in the seventh and once in the eighth to take a 6-5 lead, then tried to rally in the ninth. After two walks put runners on first and third with two out, left-handed reliever Brad Farlow picked Yves Brancheau off first for the final out.

Verdugo Hills pounded Encino starter Jorvic Salazar in the first two innings, scoring three times in the first en route to a 4-1 lead after three. Salazar settled down, however, and kept Encino in the game.

Encino scored four unearned runs off starter Brendon Cowsill in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. Cowsill was relieved by left-hander Jim Parque to open the seventh, and Parque held Crespi scoreless for two innings before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth and replaced by Workman.

* PLAYOFF ROUNDUP

Van Nuys-Notre Dame eliminated Sun Valley from the American Legion District 20 playoffs with an 11-3 win. C15