Valley Pulls Off a Triple Play : Chatsworth Struts Its Playoff Stuff

CHATSWORTH — As the confidence of the Chatsworth High baseball team rises during the City Section 4-A Division playoffs, so has a hint of a swagger.

The second-seeded Chancellors shrugged off an early scare with timely hitting and solid defense in a 9-5 victory over Cleveland in a quarterfinal Thursday before a standing-room-only crowd at Chatsworth.

The Chancellors will face West Valley League rival El Camino Real in the semifinals Tuesday at a site to be determined.

Chatsworth (20-8) trailed, 3-2, in the second inning following a three-run home run by Cleveland’s Max Santillan, but took the lead for good in the third on consecutive home runs by David Sark and Tom Morefield, knocking Cavalier pitcher Jared Mills (4-3) to the outfield.

Frank Dipoma added a two-run double off reliever Oscar Fernandez for a 6-3 lead and Sark added an RBI single in the fourth.

Even Cavalier ace Mike Schultz couldn’t slow down Chatsworth’s offensive attack. Coming on in relief of Fernandez, Schultz gave up a two-run single to Nathan Frost in the fifth, increasing the lead to 9-3.

Along the way, several Cavalier fans were annoyed at a couple of fist-pumping antics by Chatsworth players.

Pitcher Greg Wold drew most of the fans’ ire following a fourth-inning double. As he approached second base Wold slowed up, trotting into the base and pounded his chest with his fist.

“It’s all a part of the playoff intensity,” Wold said. “I probably shouldn’t have done it, and I know my coach and my dad will yell at me, but I’d rather have the fans get on me than anyone else on the team. If I have to play with [the fans’] heads a little bit, I’ll do it.”

It didn’t help matters that Wold (7-3), who scattered six hits in a complete game, hit four batters. All were on change-ups and breaking pitches that got away from Wold.

“I didn’t have my best stuff today,” Wold said. “It happens sometimes. I hit seven batters in a game once.”

Wold threw 58 pitches the first six innings thanks to four double plays, but struggled in the seventh.

Santillan had a two-run home run to make it 9-5. After Vince Zuniga struck out, Wold walked pinch-hitter Brian Schulman and shortstop Chris Vasquez before getting the final two outs.