Baseball: West Ranch wins VIBL championship

Valencia West Ranch established itself as a team to watch for the 2010 baseball season after winning the Valley Invitational Baseball League championship with a 7-1 victory over Agoura on Friday night at Birmingham.

Cody Howard and Allen Sarkissian combined a four-hitter, retiring 12 consecutive batters at one point. The Wildcats were helped by seven errors.

West Ranch entered the playoffs as the No. 1-seeded team after going 16-2 in the regular season. By winning, it shows the Wildcats have the pitching depth and defense to make a run at a Foothill League championship next season and perhaps challenge in the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

-- Eric Sondheimer