Charles Rich
NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- In celebration of clinching a berth in the CIF
Southern Section playoffs Tuesday, it wasn't clear if the Hoover High
baseball team would place neon lights around the "H" on the Verdugos.
The decoration party might have been far-fetched a month ago when
Hoover staggered through a seven-game losing streak, burying themselves
near the bottom of the Pacific League standings.
But Hoover's swirling fortunes have them playoff-bound after the
Tornadoes posted a 13-1 victory against visiting Pasadena on Tuesday in a
league game called after 4 1/2 innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
It will mark the first playoff appearance for Hoover (10-12, 8-6 in
league) since 1999, when it lost a first-round playoff game to Palmdale.
Hoover blazed a winning path, winning six of its past seven league
games to climb over Glendale for the third place in league.
It marked the third time in the past five league games that Hoover --
which swept the three-game season series from Pasadena (6-12, 4-10 in
league) -- has won via the 10-run mercy rule.
The proper time to peak, Hoover Coach Jim Delzell said.
"We're playing the way we're capable of playing," said Delzell, who
will be making his second trip to the postseason in his seven-year reign
at Hoover.
"We had some letdowns with the seven-game losing streak and not
playing well in the Babe Herman Tournament. If you look back, we were at
the bottom of the of the standings after the first round."
Hoover shortstop Philip Estrella, who missed part of the season due to
personal reasons, finished with three hits and scored three runs for
Hoover.
"The playoffs will be tough, and I'm a little nervous," Estrella said.
"We had some problems this season, and we were able to finish the regular
season on a roll."
BOX SCORE
Pasadena*0*1*0*0*0*--*1*4*3 Hoover*1*4*8*0*x*--*13*11*1
Pasadena*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Reagh*2.2*10*10*8*3*1
Dela Rosa*1.1*3*2*3*1*0
Total*4*13*12*13*3*2
Hoover*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Hibbs*5*1*1*4*8*2
WP-Hibbs (6-3).
LP-Reagh (2-3).
2B:H-Estrella.
HR:P-Ervin (3); H-Kopalyan (3).
SB:P-Esquivel.
