Palomino Tournament Opens Today

As has become custom, coaches have thrown together make-shift teams and qualified for the Pony Baseball Palomino Regional Coast tournament this weekend.

North Valley and San Fernando-Sylmar meet today at 5 p.m. at Cal State Northridge in a first-round game, even though each team of 17- and 18-year-olds has played together only a handful of times.

Saturday, Covina and Harbor meet at 10 a.m. in the four-team double-elimination tournament. The winner advances to the western zone tournament in San Jose, which begins Aug. 8. Zone champions qualify for the World Series, which begins Aug. 14 in North Carolina.

North Valley advanced to the World Series two years ago and missed qualifying in 1987 by one game.

Coach Scott Drootin has again assembled a group of talented, college-bound players who have played a short schedule. Most of the players--including Arizona-State bound Rex McMackin--also compete in American Legion, Connie Mack or other baseball leagues. Nevertheless, the squad has compiled a 12-0 record.

Also on the team are leading hitter Steve Kovacic of Granada Hills (.549, 4 HR), Damon Buford of USC, Times’ Ventura County player of the year Scott Sharts of Simi Valley and right-handed pitcher Mike Rooney of Cal State Northridge.

Rooney (4-0) probably will start against San Fernando. Jason Farrell, who has five saves, is North Valley’s top relief pitcher.

San Fernando Manager Larry Kapuscinski has brought together a successful group of players, including third baseman Rich Aude and shortstop David Waco of Chatsworth.

“We expect a drag-out game,” Kapuscinski said. “We’re kind of quiet and just play baseball, but we know there’s no love lost with North Valley.”

San Fernando did not play a regular-season schedule but swept through the Ventura district tournament, beating Antelope Valley, 18-0, and Ventura twice by one run to advance to the regional.

Covina and Harbor also won district tournaments to earn regional berths. North Valley received a bye to qualify for the regional.

Kapuscinski said he probably will start left-hander Colin Hines, who was 10-2 for Kennedy during the high school season.