SPRING HIGHLIGHTS : Beck Leads Grant to a League Title

Grant High clinched the East Valley League baseball title with an 8-2 win over Verdugo Hills on Thursday in the final regular-season game for both teams at Verdugo Hills.

Pitcher Rodney Beck led the Lancers by tossing a four-hitter and striking out 12, while walking only two. Beck also was 2 for 2 at the plate, including a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Sean Pettway was 2 for 4 with two runs batted in, and leadoff batter Juan Guerrero was 3 for 4 with three runs scored.

Sean Oliver was the only Verdugo Hills batter that managed to be a problem for Beck. Oliver hit solo home runs in the first and fourth innings.

Grant, which will enter the City 4-A playoffs ranked No. 2 behind Granada Hills, finished 15-3 in league. Verdugo Hills concluded league at 5-13.

Sylmar 13, Poly 2--Poly needed to win and get a loss by Grant to Verdugo Hills for a share of the East Valley League title. Instead, the Parrots finished third in league after losing at Sylmar.

Sylmar’s Rick Diaz hit a three-run homer and Tony Taisacan went 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Isidro Rodriguez and Biff McGahn each were 2 for 4 to lead Sylmar. Poly added to its woes with five errors.

Poly ended the regular season at 13-5, while Sylmar finished fourth at 11-7.

North Hollywood 7, Fairfax 0--North Hollywood improved its record to 14-4 and finished second in the East Valley League without even taking the field, as Fairfax had to forfeit because of a fighting incident last week.

High School Gymnastics

Mike Neighbors and Evans Nettles of San Fernando, and Aaron Royle of Taft all won individual titles at the Los Angeles City gymnastics championships at University High.

Neighbors tied for first in the floor exercise with Hector Aguilar of Huntington Park. Both gymnasts received scores of 8.9.

Teammate Nettles won the pommel horse with a score of 6.7, and Royce won the parallel bars with a score of 8.25.