Valley North Caps a Wild Day With Title

VAN NUYS — No one was happier than Tony Montiel that Valley North pulled out a 9-8 victory over Sun Valley in the American Legion District 20 championship game Sunday at Birmingham High.

Valley North’s Montiel relieved Jim DeBiase with Valley North leading, 8-4, and one out in the top of the ninth, but he allowed Sun Valley to tie the score. Fortunately for Montiel, Valley North won in the bottom of the ninth when Ray Daryabigi scored on Hugo De La Torre’s bases-loaded wild pitch with none out.

It was a stressful day for Montiel, who finished Valley North’s 13-11 victory over Encino earlier Sunday morning. That game had been suspended in the ninth Saturday because of darkness. Montiel, who began the ninth with a three-run lead, walked the bases loaded but escaped, giving up one run.

Valley North (19-8), the 10th-seeded team in the 10-team, double-elimination tournament, won all six of its playoff games to qualify for the Area 6 playoffs, which begin Thursday at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

DeBiase was outstanding for most of the day Sunday. Through eight innings, he had given up two runs, five hits and one walk. With his team leading, 8-2, he retired the first batter in the top of the ninth and struck out the second, but catcher Brandon Murphy couldn’t hold the third strike, a curveball in the dirt, and Luciano Cuevas reached first base.

DeBiase then gave up four straight hits before yielding to Montiel, who couldn’t retire the side until Sun Valley (18-7-1) tied the score, 8-8. On Saturday, Sun Valley scored four runs in the top of the ninth to beat Van Nuys East, 7-6.

“I kind of thought about that,” Valley North’s Bryan LaCour said. “But we knew we just needed one run. We were all composed.”

Daryabigi led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple. Sun Valley intentionally walked Murphy and Montiel before the key wild pitch.