Adrian Guzman scores for Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game against Birmingham at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood defeats Banning in the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood defeats Banning in the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Adrian Guzman reacts after scoring for Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood defeats Banning in the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood celebrates after defeating Banning in the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Banning’s Pedro Ibanez-Eddy makes a diving attempt at a North Hollywood hit in extra innings in the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood’s Nick Park reacts after hitting triple and knocking in the game winning run in extra innings against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood’s Robert Han-Dressor and Nick Park celebrate as they defeat Banning in the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood catcher Robert Han-Dressor and Enoch Yi converge on a foul ball against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Adrian Guzman after scoring for Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood’s Cristian Calderon celebrates as he knocks in a run in extra innings against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood’s Nick Park (rt) celebrates as they defeat Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood pitcher Maxwell Koster reacts after striking out a Banning batter during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood catcher Robert Han-Dressor and Enoch Yi converge on a foul ball against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood defeats Banning in the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood’s Cristian Calderon celebrates after knocking in a run in extra innings against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood’s Cristian Calderon celebrates as he knocks in a run in extra innings against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
North Hollywood’s Cristian Calderon celebrates as he knocks in a run in extra innings against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Nick Park and Richard Ruvalcaba celebrate after North Hollywood scores in the fifth inning against Banning during the L.A. City Section Division I championship game at Dodger Stadium May 25, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES Baseball is said to be a ‘Game of Inches’ and Saturday’s CIF L.A. City Section Division I championship game between Banning and North Hollywood was a good example.
With the score tied at one in the bottom of the fifth inning Banning had the potential go-ahead run on third base with one out. Shortstop Isaac Martinez lifted a fly ball to center field. Banning’s Angelo Duarte tagged up at third and beat Elijah Gaytan’s throw home for an apparent 2-1 lead.
However, North Hollywood (20-12) appealed that Duarte left third base early before the ball was caught and he was ruled out negating the run.
“We had him on the bag, but the umpires said he was off, we got to live with that decision ….that’s baseball,” Banning coach Tommy Louviere said. “We had a chance in the sixth inning, but we didn’t do what we needed to do. With two hits you’re not going to win a lot of ball games. We had good pitching and defense, but our bats went quiet today.”
With the score tied, North Hollywood’s Nick Park’s RBI triple and Christian Calderon’s RBI single gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead and eventual win by the same score, clinching the title at Dodger Stadium.
Banning (18-14) was looking for its first City Section title since 1961.
Both starting pitchers were in control through the first four innings.
North Hollywood scored in the fifth inning against Banning starter Jason Torres. With two outs, Diego Velasquez’s two-out double scored Richard Ruvalcaba to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
Banning tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Phillip Melgoza singled and pinch-runner Adrian Guzman stole second and went to third on an error. After a walk, Chris Martinez laid down a sacrifice bunt and Guzman came home, tying the game at 1-1, as soon as the pitcher threw to first.
That set-up Isaac Martinez to drive in Duarte from third with the fly ball. Duarte beat the throw easily, but it would be all for naught after the appeal reversed the call.
Then came the sacrifice fly that ended up being overturned.
“It was a tough game,” Torres said. “You try your best, but sometimes your best is not good enough. We played a good team, and they play hard all innings. We just lost.
“It’s a baseball play (apparent sacrifice fly). They make that call (appeal play) you have to come up and hit again. You can see the scoreboard, we got two hits. That doesn’t cut it in a championship game.”
Torres allowed one run on three hits in five innings.
North Hollywood led off the sixth with triple off of Robert Guerrero in relief. Torres, who moved to catcher, fielded a one-out squeeze bunt by Enoch Yi just in front of the plate and tagged out Park at home. Guerrero then struck out Koster to end the threat.
Banning had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. The Pilots had runners on first and third with two outs, but Guerrero flew out to end the inning.
After a scoreless seventh inning, North Hollywood scored the winning runs in the eighth.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play at Dodger Stadium,” Guerrero said. “It would have been better to win, but we fell a little short. We started this season a little rough, but we came together at the end of the season and got here, but I really wanted to win CIF.”
