Prep sports roundup: Birmingham closes in on league title after win over El Camino Real

Birmingham coach Matt Mowry talks to his players after a 9-1 win over El Camino Real on Friday. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) Posted along the left-field fence at Birmingham High are the years it won City Section baseball titles: 1964, 1966, 1969, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023. Nowhere is there any recognition for winning a West Valley League title.

That's because the current coach, Matt Mowry, has won five City titles and zero league titles during his 20 seasons. He might need to make room for a first West Valley title after the Patriots completed a two-game sweep this week of El Camino Real, winning on Friday 9-1. Nathan Soto struck out five and walked none in six innings.

Carlos Acuna, Toni Mendoza and Jordan Lindsay each had two hits. The Patriots (22-4, 11-2) have a one-game lead over El Camino Real (18-8, 10-3) going into a two-game series with Cleveland next week. Athletic director Rick Prizant has always joked with Mowry that he wants City titles, not necessarily league titles, but the players were determined this season to end Mowry's drought.

Aidan Martinez two-run double. Birmingham 3, ECR 1. Then Carlos Acuna RBI single.