Franklin Trips Over Narbonne’s Title Feat

It has been a year of extremes for Nick Van Lue, both good and bad.

Last fall, he was punched unconscious by a player while officiating a community college football game. For this, he gained a measure of unwanted publicity and a broken jaw.

But the events of the past week have proved that you can’t keep a good man down.

Van Lue is back in the headlines, this time on a more pleasant note after coaching Narbonne High’s baseball team to the L.A. City 3-A Division title. The Gauchos defeated Franklin, 5-1, Friday at Dodger Stadium to capture the school’s first-ever City title in baseball and its first in any sport since the 1980 football season.

The significance of the accomplishment was not lost on Van Lue. He took over a struggling program in 1989 and, in three seasons, has helped give a much-needed shot in the arm to Narbonne’s athletic image.

“It’s got to help,” he said of winning the City title. “Gee, maybe now we can get some athletes that play other sports, too. It can do nothing but benefit the whole school’s athletic program. It’s fantastic.”

Van Lue praised his players, several of whom have been with him for three seasons on the varsity, since they were sophomores.

“The thing I noticed when I started (coaching at Narbonne) was there wasn’t a lot of kids playing baseball,” he said. “I started with an all 10th-grade team on the varsity level and just let them progress. And it’s paid off.”

It paid off Friday in the form of a hard-earned victory. Narbonne capitalized on its offensive opportunities and played steady defense. Some of the heroes were pitcher Armando Cervantes, who threw a five-hitter and struck out nine; right fielder Mike Ramirez, who batted three for four with a triple and a double in the lead-off spot, and second baseman Gary Novak, who started two double plays by tagging out baserunners.

“They seemed to have it under control pretty much,” Van Lue said of his players. “They knew what they had to do. We talked about it over the week and they were absolutely super.”

Van Lue said the Gauchos were prepared for anything after Tuesday’s come-from-behind 9-8 semifinal victory over Hamilton in 11 innings.

“The only thing we were concerned about was overcoming the pressures of being here at Dodger Stadium,” he said.

Franklin Coach Richard Campbell, who complained that his team let too many scoring opportunities slip away by stranding eight baserunners, said Narbonne played as well as any opponent the Panthers have faced.

“I can’t take anything away from Narbonne,” Campbell said. “They came to play. They’re very well-coached. They’re a classy act and I’d like to congratulate them. They’re just a fantastic ball club.”

Campbell said Narbonne played better Friday than when the teams met in a scrimmage before the start of league play.

“I didn’t think they were going to be as good as they were,” he said. “I don’t know how long Nick has been there, it’s only been a few years, but he’s done a very good job with the players that they have. And I’ll tell you what, they’re going to be good for years to come. They have a lot of good people helping them. If you look over there now, their fans did a fantastic job.”

For a school unaccustomed to athletic success, Narbonne sure knows how to throw a celebration when the opportunity arises.

Gaucho fans turned out in force for Friday’s game. Some came with their faces painted green and gold, the school’s colors. Others brought banners to display words of encouragement. Everyone cheered mightily.

“You see the support we got here today,” said Van Lue, looking into the stands. “We had a pep rally today. The whole school was pumped up. There are more people here today than I thought were going to be here. It inspired us. Our kids were pumped up and ready to play.”

That they were.

Being the winning pitcher in the City title game completed a storybook season for Cervantes, who missed his junior year with a shoulder injury.

The senior right-hander transferred to Narbonne this year from Bishop Montgomery, where he was 7-1 on the varsity level as a sophomore. Cervantes was 9-4 this season and was one of the team’s top hitters.

“I never imagined this kind of thing would happen to me,” he said. “I knew we were going to go far, but I didn’t think this far. I’m just happy we did it, and I’m proud of my coach.”

Campbell said Cervantes was the best pitcher Franklin had faced all year. Van Lue was also impressed.

“It was one of his best performances of the year,” Van Lue said. “It seemed like he was tiring a little bit in the middle innings, then he found some extra. I told him, ‘Hey, baby, let the adrenaline do the rest.’ He has a lot of heart.

“We had three or four guys who got us here. Without any one of them, our chances would have been much dimmer.”

That group includes Cervantes, his brother Paco, the third baseman, and pitchers Jason Donaldson and Craig Valenzuela.

As collaborative efforts go, the six-hitter Banning’s Mark Chavez and Mike Busby combined on Friday night at Dodger Stadium was certainly no disgrace.

It just wasn’t good enough.

San Fernando beat Banning at its own game--pitching, defense and timely hitting--to capture the City 4-A Division title with a 3-2 victory.

Busby gave up the winning hit--a two-out bloop single by David Rojas in the bottom of the seventh inning--after relieving Chavez with one out in the sixth and San Fernando leading, 2-1. It was Busby’s first loss in 12 decisions.

“(Rojas) hit it where I pitched it,” Busby said. “An outside fastball. It was right where I wanted it, and he hit it. He (swung) late. It was one of those things. A blooper. I don’t consider it a hit, but it won the game.”

Banning Coach Syl Saavedra believed the Pilots would win after Chavez tied the score, 2-2, with a dramatic two-out, run-scoring triple to deep center field in the seventh.

“We had the momentum,” Saavedra said. “Mike’s on the mound. Our best guy. He’s undefeated. I’m thinking, ‘Hey, we got it.’ ”

Busby, however, lost it in the seventh. He opened the inning by hitting Abel Barajas with a pitch, and then wild-pitched him to second. After a bunt moved Barajas to third, Rojas hit a fly ball to shallow right-center field for the game-winning hit.

It was the first relief appearance of the season for Busby, who said he struggled with his control after getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with two strikeouts.

“I’m not used to it,” Busby said of coming out of the bullpen. “Plus, with all these people here, it shook me up. But that’s no excuse for me.”

Banning’s undoing, as it turned out, was not collecting any timely hits, other than Chavez’s triple.

“(San Fernando) is a pretty good ball club, but I think we beat ourselves today,” Chavez said. “We hit the ball, but we didn’t hit it hard enough.”

San Fernando’s victory kept alive the Valley’s streak of having won every City major-division baseball title since 1973.

So far, the Southern Section Small Schools Division baseball playoffs have been a cakewalk for Chadwick. The Dolphins routed Woodcrest Christian of Riverside, 15-2, Friday to advance to Tuesday’s semifinals.

Chadwick (16-4) will play Prep League rival Rio Hondo Prep (16-4) at an alternate site. The Dolphins have outscored three playoff opponents, 46-7.

Catcher Todd Seneker led the way Friday with three hits, including his ninth home run. He also drove in three runs. Pitcher Mac McKinnie (10-1) gave up four hits in six innings and also had three hits.