ARROYO HAS HIS MOMENT.

Byline: Dave Desmond Daily News Staff Writer

The American Legion District 20 All-Star Game was just another waiting game for Granada Hills East pitcher Tim Arroyo.

The left-hander, who watched as Jon Garland and Wes Crown chewed up most of the innings last spring at Kennedy High School, was again asked to take a number on Sunday.

When finally called, however, he made short work of the West and helped the East to a 6-5 victory in 10 innings before an overflow crowd at Valley College.

``I was getting really itchy to get in there,'' said Arroyo, who retired six consecutive batters in the ninth and 10th innings.

Arroyo, who was 2-3 last spring as a junior at Kennedy and 4-1 this summer, was the 12th pitcher to enter the game and the only one to even once retire a side in order.

Arroyo picked up the victory when Bryan Gant of Valley North slapped a line drive off the glove of West second baseman J.T. Stotts to score pinch runner Justin Savitt from third with no outs in the bottom of the 10th.

Gant's hit, against a drawn-in infield, concluded a game that was near an end one way or another.

East co-coaches Jody Breeden (Van Nuys East) and Jim Mills (Central Valley) and West co-coaches Bill Paxton (Palmdale) and Frank Harper (Antelope Valley North) agreed beforehand that the 10th would be the final frame after each ran out of pitchers and had used all 54 players who had suited up.

``I don't feel like we lost because we got everybody in and that was my primary objective,'' Paxton said.

Loyola Marymount-bound Mike Schultz, a ninth-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, struck out four in two innings as the starter for the East. He also walked to lead off the 10th and gave way to Central Valley teammate Savitt, who moved to third when John Anello (Tri-Cities) doubled to set up Gant's game-winner.

Anello's shot to left center was the only extra-base hit of the day for the East. The West, which led 1-0, 2-1, 4-3 and 5-4, pounded out five for extra bases.

Woodland Hills West's Mike Conn (2 for 3) and Nick Lombard, West Hills' Nate Dunlap and Saugus' Brent Pellico each doubled, while Bobby Potruch of Newhall-Saugus tripled.

The East, which had hits from 11 different players, received an RBI single and scoring fly ball from Arnold Vasquez of North Hollywood West.

Potruch of Hart High School started on the mound for the West and matched Schultz, striking out four in two shutout innings. He paced a West staff that recorded 12 strikeouts.

HIGHLIGHTS

Standouts from Sunday's District 20 All-Star Game:

Mike Schultz (East): 2 innings pitched, 4 strike outs, 1 hit.

Bobby Potruch (West): 2 innings pitched, 4 strike outs, 1 hit, 1 for 1 (triple)

Mike Conn (West): 2 for 3, double

Bryan Gant (East): Game-winning single

Arnold Vasquez (East): 1 for 2, 2 RBI

Tim Arroyo (East): 2 innings pitched, no hits allowed.

West pitching staff: 12 strike outs.

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Box: HIGHLIGHTS (see text)