S.F.'S FASHION STATEMENT TIGERS COACH TO KEEP PROMISE, WEAR DRESS AFTER VICTORY SAN FERNANDO 4, KENNEDY 3.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

The San Fernando High baseball players did their part to get their coach to wear a dress to school. Now the Tigers are intent on getting him some jewelry - as in a championship ring - to complete the outfit.

San Fernando improved its chances of a favorable seed in the City playoffs by defeating visiting Kennedy of Granada Hills 4-3 on Wednesday. The victory moves the Tigers into a tie with the Cougars for first place in the Valley Mission League, but San Fernando gets the higher seed because it beat Kennedy twice in three games.

Tigers coach Armando Gomez said he'd wear a dress if his team beat Kennedy.

``We're headed to (Dodger Stadium),'' Tigers catcher D.J. Lewis said. ``No one's going to stop us.''

San Fernando (16-11, 11-2) showed why it is so difficult to stop, using a team effort to rally from a 3-1 seventh-inning deficit against one of the area's hottest teams.

After managing only one baserunner in the previous three innings against Cougars starter John Kane, San Fernando's first five batters reached base in the seventh. Steven Pujol drove in the Tigers' first run of the inning and scored the tying run when teammate Bobby Esparza intended to get caught in a rundown between first and second base, but Kane's throw went into center field. With the bases loaded and no outs, Esparza scored the winning run on a wild pitch by reliever Ozzie Lewis.

``This is what we wanted,'' Gomez said. ``We never quit. That's the key. I have to wear a dress now, but this is worth it.''

Gomez gave the Tigers their extra incentive after another teacher at the school took a photograph of Gomez holding a purse at the prom. He said he'd wear the dress that goes with the purse if San Fernando beat Kennedy (19-9, 11-2).

San Fernando's odds didn't look good most of the game.

Pedro Montero, who finished 3 for 4, doubled and scored the game's first run to give San Fernando a first-inning lead. But Kennedy pulled ahead with two runs in the second and was rarely threatened as Kane hit his stride.

Kane retired the side in order three times, from the second through the fifth innings, and struck out the side in the sixth to give him seven strikeouts.

Kennedy had increased its lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth when a squeeze bunt by Richard Mestas scored pinch runner Cesar Padilla.

San Fernando remained within striking distance thanks to an impressive relief appearance by Pujol (8-3). The sophomore left-hander entered the game in the third inning and retired the first nine batters he faced. The only two hits he allowed were in the sixth inning.

``I wanted to start,'' said Pujol, who was more eager to talk about his seventh-inning double. ``I was ready. I'm just glad I got that hit. ... This feels great.''

The Tigers are far from satisfied.

``This is not our whole goal,'' Gomez said. ``We're looking toward City and getting a high seed. After coming within a win last year, it left a bitter taste in these guys' mouths.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Kane in the fourth. The Tigers' Bobby Esparza also scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, which proved to be the winning run.

(2) San Fernando catcher D.J. Lewis and his teammates had a big day, beating rival Kennedy 4-3 to move into a tie for first place Wednesday.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer