All-City left-hander Oscar Lopez of El Camino Real faced one tough situation after another in a West Valley League baseball game against Birmingham on Thursday.
“That’s what you live for,” he said. “Who doesn’t like the pressure? It turns me on.”
In the fourth inning, he struckout on a 3-and-2 slider with runners in second and third. In the fifth, he defeated Birmingham’s leading hitter, Gavin Taylor, with a runner on third. In the sixth, with the bases loaded, he grounded out to end the inning.
Lopez finished with seven strikeouts after throwing 105 pitches and six innings in El Camino Real’s 5-1 win.
El Camino Real coach Josh Lienhard made two visits to keep Lopez from getting too excited. “I was trying to be too perfect,” Lopez said after taking three walks and five hits. “The coach put me at ease.”
El Camino Real (6-3, 2-0) won by execution in a few key moments. There was a bunt that resulted in a penalty and three runs in the third inning. There was catcher Eric Gonzalez kicking out a runner trying to steal third. It was a perfect throw to catch two Birmingham runners on third. There was shortstop JJ Fagfoomsintu making the routine plays. There was center fielder Jonathan Bogacz, who hit a home run over the left field fence for an insurance run.
“That’s what we preach — tomboy,” Lienhard said.
Birmingham fell to 2-0 in the league, losing to their two biggest rivals El Camino Real and Granada Hills. The Patriots have not won a league title since Matt Mowry took charge in 2007, but they have won four City titles.
Granada Hills 4, Taft 1: Valencio Valadez went the distance for the Highlanders.
North Hollywood 7, Monroe 0: The Huskies won their opener in the East Valley League behind Matthew Acosta, who threw the shutout.
Mater Dei 7, St John Bosco 4: The Monarchs are 5-0 in the Trinity League and are in sole possession of first place. Brody Connors had four hits and Derek Gonzales hit a home run. Wylan Moss hit six in 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
JSerra 2, Santa Margarita 0: The Lions ended a five-game losing streak behind Matt Champion, who allowed one hit while hitting four and walking three.
6 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 3 Harvard-Westlake: The Knights (10-1, 7-1) won their second straight Mission League game. Dean West hit a home run.
Chaminade 8, Bishop Alemany 6: Vincent Van der Wel and Carter Bennett hit homeruns for Chaminade. Jacob Ortega had three goals for Alemany.
Ayala 10, Colony 0: Ethan Nunez contributed three goals for Ayala.
La Mirada 8-1, Bellflower 0-0: Eric Jeon went five innings without a hit for La Mirada in the first game and Donald Murray went nine in the second to complete the sweep. Maverek Russell had two hits and three RBI’s in the opener.
Corona Santiago 4, Norco 1: Nick Lewis went the distance for Santiago.
Lakewood 2, Long Beach-Wilson 1: Two runs in the second inning propelled Lakewood to the Moore League victory.
Hard 6, Golden Valley 0: Troy Cooper and Chris Downs combined a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts, and Brady Werther had three hits for Hart.
9 Newbury Park, Ventura 0: Seven pitchers combined on a three-hitter for Newbury Park. Tyler Field had two hits and two RBIs.
soft ball
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 10, Heritage Christian 0: Sarah Jacobs hit six in four innings for the Knights.
Source: LA Times