Verdugo Hills claims City Section Division I baseball title

Verdugo Hills, the fourth-place finisher in the Valley Mission League with a 10-18 record entering the City Section Division I playoffs, completed a remarkable turnaround on Saturday, winning its fourth consecutive playoff game to take home the Division I title with a 3-1 victory over Taft at Dodger Stadium. No one was picking the Dons in this one. They had used their two best pitchers in a 10-inning semifinal win over top-seeded Sylmar.

But coach Angel Espindola had a plan. Verdugo Hills 3, Taft 1. DI champs.

Anthony Velasquez complete game. pic. twitter.

com/qDs1P2OxCT — eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 23, 2026 “I’ve got tricks up my sleeve,” he said. Anthony Velasquez threw a complete-game one-hitter while relying on his defense to make the routine plays and deal with six walks and only one strikeout. At the plate, the hero was first baseman Cutlor Fannon.