Baseball: El Camino Real claims second in the West Valley League

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Woodland Hills El Camino Real blew a 6-0 lead, then got a seventh-inning home run from Chris Nicholson to break a 6-6 deadlock and came away with an 8-6 victory over Woodland Hills Taft to finish in second place in the West Valley League.

Luke Oller had a three-run triple for the Conquistadores, and Chris Whitmer picked up the victory with 4 2/3 innings of relief.

League champion Chatsworth got an 11-1, five-inning victory over Birmingham. Christian Lopez allowed three hits. Aaron Brown had two RBIs.

Taft, Cleveland and Birmingham finished in a three-way tie for third place. Cleveland lost to Granada Hills, 7-4. Kurt Mateko had three hits for Granada Hills.

In the Foothill League, Hart defeated Golden Valley, 4-1, behind pitcher Garrett Gooding. League champion Valencia defeated Canyon Country Canyon, 6-2. Trey Williams and James Bonds hit home runs. Alex Lightfoot had three hits. West Ranch defeated Saugus, 8-4. Dakota Hernandez had four hits.

Arcadia won the Pacific League championship with an 8-1 victory over Crescenta Valley.

-- Eric Sondheimer