VAN NUYS — Birmingham baseball’s final regular-season game came down to one swing in the bottom of the seventh inning.
After six scoreless innings Thursday afternoon, senior catcher and center fielder Larkin Fleming delivered a walk-off hit to lift Birmingham to a 1-0 West Valley League victory over Cleveland.
The Patriots improved to 24-4 overall and 13-2 in league play, finishing first in the West Valley League and carrying momentum into the CIF City Section playoffs. Cleveland finished its season 11-17 and 5-10 in the league.
The game was scoreless heading into the seventh after strong pitching performances from both teams. Birmingham finally broke through in its final at-bat when Fleming, a Utah Tech commit, sent his teammate home with the game-winning hit.
“I had to have trust in my teammates. They put me in the right position to make a play,” Fleming said.
Fleming said moments like that come with pressure, but Birmingham’s preparation helped him stay grounded with the game on the line.
Birmingham coach Matt Mowry said Fleming’s poise in big moments is one of the things that makes him such an important piece for the Patriots.
“He loves those kinds of moments. Those are never too big for him,” Mowry said.
The regular-season finale also served as a playoff tuneup for Birmingham, which has focused on turning the page quickly and taking each game one at a time.
Mowry trains his athletes to stay present throughout the long season, especially when mistakes or missed opportunities pile up.
“Not thinking about the other play or at bat, they have to turn the page and move on,” Mowry said.
That mindset will matter even more in the postseason, where Birmingham hopes to turn its West Valley League title into a CIF City Section championship run.
The City playoff bracket will be released shortly after the regular season concludes May 10.
“We’re trying to go 1-0 every day until the championship,” Fleming said.
“Hopefully a ring comes out of that,” Fleming said.