Harvard-Westlake Closes in on Baseball Title

For all of Harvard-Westlake High’s athletic success through the years – the section titles, the state championships in multiple sports, the future NBA players – the Wolverines have not won a baseball title in more than two decades and perhaps a lot longer.

“We’re reminded every time we walk into the gym because of all the banners. We’ve never won one, at least not since 1989 when they started keeping track,” baseball coach Matt Lacour said.

This could be the breakthrough season. Harvard-Westlake (17-6, 6-1) has a one-game lead over Chaminade of West Hills (14-5, 7-2) in the Mission League, and the teams play at 3:45 today at Chaminade.

If Harvard-Westlake wins, the Wolverines would be in great shape, as they have at least a four-game lead over everyone else.

Chaminade is No. 1 in the Southern Section Division II rankings, and Harvard-Westlake is unranked.

“We’ve got five league games left, and we want to win each one,” Lacour said. “For us, today’s game has no more buildup than any other game. In this league, things can change rather drastically and rather quickly. I don’t look at league standings. I look at game-by-game.”

Lacour is saying all the right things, but by winning today, perhaps Harvard-Westlake should start clearing a space in the trophy case because it would be quite a shock to blow a two-game lead with four remaining.

“Obviously, it’s an important time,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to win it all, and our guys are determined to win each league game.”

Senior right-hander Sam Horn takes the mound today for Harvard-Westlake. The Wolverines defeated Chaminade 5-4 on Tuesday in the first of a two-game series. Chaminade is expected to start either Michael Dingilian or Dalton Brown, both of whom are hard-throwing right-handers.

CAMPBELL HALL BASEBALL TEAM READY TO MAKE STATEMENT

After sweeping Crossroads this week with a 6-4 win Tuesday followed by a 14-4 win Thursday, Campbell Hall’s baseball team faces Alpha League rival Montclair Prep at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Franklin Field in Encino.

 Montclair Prep is No. 3 in the Southern Section Division V rankings, and Campbell Hall is fifth.

“It’s a good opportunity for our guys to come out and see where they stand against a high-quality team,” Campbell Hall coach Juan Velasquez said. “It’s definitely going to be a playoff-type atmosphere.”

In Thursday’s win, Adam Ehrlich was 5 for 5 with two triples, a double and three RBIs, raising his average to .590 with five home runs, 37 RBIs and a 1.143 slugging percentage.

On Saturday, Montclair Prep is scheduled to send ace left-hander Max Fried to the mound. He beat Campbell Hall last time, though Ehrlich was 3 for 3 against the prized junior who is headed to UCLA.

“Hopefully, we’ll make some adjustments this time,” Ehrlich said.

NOHO BOYS GET IN THE SWING OF THINGS

North Hollywood’s boys golf team is 8-0,  and the Huskies finish with a match at 2 p.m. Wednesday against Sherman Oaks CES at Encino Golf Course, followed by the finale May 11 against Kennedy.

“So far so good, but we’ve got two very tough matches coming up,” coach Steve Miller said. “We’ve got a young group with seven ninth- and 10th-graders, plus two seniors who’ve been with me for three or four years, Nigel Tucker and Khorri Ellis, who lead the team.”

The match against Sherman Oaks features four of the City’s best with Tucker and Ellis going up against Troix Tomkhan and Angelo Galletti.

“It should be a great match,” Miller said.

MUST-WIN SITUATION

After a two-week spring break, North Hollywood’s softball team finishes with a two-game series with East Valley League rival Arleta beginning on Monday, and the Huskies probably need to win both to make the City Section Division II playoffs.

“We need to win these two and hope for the best,” North Hollywood coach Dennis Ruffin said.

Playoff pairings are scheduled to be announced May 9.

“It’s been a frustrating year because we’ve had so many injuries,” Ruffin said. “We should be doing way better, but with three key injuries, that takes a lot out of you.”