Birmingham Bows to Crown

Wes Crown pitched a three-hitter while striking out 13 batters for Kennedy High in a 2-1 victory over Birmingham on Friday in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Kennedy.

The Golden Cougars (7-2, 4-0 in conference play) scored in the first inning on Jack Castle’s run-scoring single and Tim Arroyo’s run-producing fielder’s choice.

Joey Rubin hit a run-scoring single in the sixth for Birmingham (4-5, 0-4).

Taft 4, Granada Hills 2--Danny Chavez had two hits, including a two-run single to break a 2-2 tie in a three-run fifth inning for the Toreadors in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Granada Hills.

Darnell Westbrook of Taft (5-4, 2-2) hit a home run in the fifth inning to tie the score, 2-2.

Sylmar 10, Monroe 0--Mario Pacheco (3-0) pitched five shutout innings for the Spartans (8-1, 4-0) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference game at Sylmar.

Grant 12, Canoga Park 3--Cole James had four hits, including a double and a triple, and four RBIs, and Felipe Tetelboin added three hits and two RBIs for the Lancers (2-7, 2-2) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference victory at Lanark Park.

Crespi 10, Loyola 5--Brian Horwitz and Ron Lauer each had two-run homers for the Celts (8-0-1, 4-0) in a Mission League game at Loyola.

Junior right-hander Tim Leveque (3-0) pitched an eight-hitter with five strikeouts.

Notre Dame 15, Alemany 3--Jonathan Brewster’s three-run home run highlighted a seven-run first inning in a five-inning Mission League game at Alemany.

Ryan Stonerock had three hits and three RBIs for Notre Dame (6-2-1, 3-0-1), hitting a bases-empty home run in the third.

Joey Fama had a two-run home run for Alemany.

Hart 8, Canyon 2--Andy Davidson (6-0) pitched a one-hitter with nine strikeouts in a Foothill League game at Canyon.

Ryan Haag and Chris Wright had back-to-back home runs in the fifth for Hart (11-0, 4-0), ranked third in The Times’ regional poll.

Newbury Park 12, Westlake 1--Tyler Johnson (2-1) pitched a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts to help the Panthers win a Marmonte League game at Newbury Park.

Ryan Ayers hit a grand slam, and Joey Hamer and Danny Greene also had home runs for Newbury Park (5-4, 1-2).

Simi Valley 13, Agoura 5--Jesse Kozlowski had a bases-empty home run and David Land had three hits and three RBIs for the Pioneers (6-2, 2-1) in a Marmonte League victory at Simi Valley.

Royal 7, Camarillo 5--Brett Wayne’s two-run single broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth for the Highlanders (5-4, 1-1), who turned a triple play in a Marmonte League game at Royal.

Fillmore 5, Carpinteria 3--George Casarez pitched a two-hitter, striking out seven, and the Flashes (4-2, 2-0) won a Tri-Valley League game at Fillmore.

Brian Lipman led off the sixth for Royal (5-4, 1-1) with a home run that went an estimated 500 feet.

Palmdale 13, Antelope Valley 3--Matt Harrington (2-0) and Sean Zortman combined on a two-hitter and the Falcons won a Golden League game at Palmdale.

Jason Gorman had four hits and scored three runs, and Chris Testa had a double, home run and scored four runs for Palmdale (6-2, 2-0).

Rio Mesa 6, Santa Barbara 2--John Ramirez, Richard Martinez and Isaac Romero hit home runs in the third inning for the Spartans (6-3, 2-1) in a Channel League game at Santa Barbara.