Kerber Ices Granada Hills With 6-Hit Shutout

Mike Kerber is an easygoing type of guy, one who could have his new car totaled by an uninsured driver and still be happy because the stereo was undamaged. Regardless of the problem, he’d find a bright spot.

Kerber’s equanimity was tried repeatedly Friday afternoon--by his teammates and his opponents, which included the Lanark Park field--but one after another, he shrugged them all off.

“He looked very cool to me,” Canoga Park High Coach Doug MacKenzie said. “He just seemed in complete control of himself. Nothing seemed to bother him.”

But don’t get the idea that Kerber lacks intensity. A Boston Celtics fan would give Bill Laimbeer his stool at a crowded pub before Kerber would relax enough to allow an opponent to score.

Kerber, a junior right-hander, was at his competitive best Friday, striking out seven and allowing six hits to lead Canoga Park to a 3-0 win over Granada Hills in the quarterfinals of the City Section 4-A playoffs.

Kerber (6-0), who is undefeated in 11 varsity decisions over two seasons, established his dominance at the outset, striking out five in the first two innings. After watching the first four Granada Hills batters strike out, it was hard to believe all were hitting at least .333.

Kerber allowed five hits and had only one strikeout over the final four innings, but that didn’t stop Granada Hills Coach Darryl Stroh from picking Canoga Park to win the championship.

“I don’t see anyone who can beat him when he has a good game and that’s all he’s been throwing,” Stroh said of Kerber, whose first shutout dropped his earned-run average to 1.60. “He gets one or two runs and it’s almost over. It’s so hard to put together back-to-back hits.”

Kerber actually was more dominating than the results show. Only two balls--singles by Steve Kovacic and Sean Brown--were hit hard, and Kerber did well to keep his composure as he watched Granada Hills get three bloop singles and a hit on a slow roller.

Kerber aside, Canoga Park also is Stroh’s sentimental favorite. MacKenzie, who is in his 37th season, is retiring from teaching and Stroh is one of many who think a championship is long overdue.

“I hope he wins it,” said Stroh, who has won five titles in 18 seasons. “When you coach for 37 years you deserve more than a City championship.”

Canoga Park (17-4), which has never reached the championship game, will play Sylmar, a 6-0 winner over San Fernando, in the semifinals Tuesday.

Without Kerber’s sharpness Canoga Park, which has won 15 of its last 16, might have had its season ended Friday by Granada Hills (12-9). Canoga Park used eight hits to score single runs in each of the first three innings, but wasted chances for an early blowout.

The Hunters put their first two batters on base in the first four innings, but double plays halted each opportunity.

Canoga Park had increased its lead to 2-0 in the second and loaded the bases with nobody out, but Adrian Garcia struck out and Scott Strickland lined into an inning-ending double play.