West Wins Behind Howland : American Legion: Sipperley gets last out in 8-3 victory over Valley North.

Call it off-season baseball between teams with regional names. Or high school teams playing under an alias.

Just be sure to call it a rivalry.

Woodland Hills West against Valley North may sound like a conglomeration of American Legion ballplayers from all over the west Valley, but make no mistake, it is the resumption of a battle between City Section powers El Camino Real and Chatsworth highs. “We don’t think of them as Valley North, that’s for sure,� West (read El Camino Real) pitcher Evan Howland said. “It’s still El Camino against Chatsworth, two of the dominant teams (in the City).�

Howland carried a shutout into the seventh inning as West pelted Valley North, 8-3, in a Western Division game Wednesday at El Camino Real High. Though the teams tied for the West Valley League title in the high school season, El Camino Real lost three times to Chatsworth.

Not this time. West (5-2 in district play) jumped to an 8-0 lead and Howland held Valley North (5-1-1) to four hits over the first six innings and was backed by a pair of key double plays. Valley North, conversely, committed five costly errors.

Valley North set the tone in the first when West’s Mike McLean reached base on an infield error and stole second. The throw to second by catcher David Stevenson sailed into center field for an error. Center fielder Mark Lopez--an All-City selection--tried to gun down McLean at third but flung the ball into the stands.

“Just one of those things,� Valley North Coach Pete Redfern said. “Howland pitched a good ballgame, and he just ran out of gas at the end. I wish he would have run out earlier.�

Valley North scored three times in the seventh before Jason Sipperley relieved Howland with the bases loaded and two out. Sipperley retired Mike Garbo on a comebacker for the final out.

West scored three unearned runs in the third off right-hander Eric Holliday (2-1) for a 4-0 lead, and kept the pressure on throughout. West was seven for seven in stolen-base attempts and is perfect in 37 attempts in district play.