Wharton, Chatsworth have Cleveland’s number, once again
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Give James Wharton credit for telling the truth.
The Chatsworth High senior first baseman doesn’t hide his euphoria about getting to hit against Cleveland pitchers. ‘It’s a lot of fun playing them,’ he said.
Wharton has become the Cavaliers’ nemesis. He hit two home runs in a March 6 victory over Cleveland, both coming off Stanford-bound pitcher Chris Reed.
On Wednesday, he hit the first pitch from Reed for a two-run home run and added a run-scoring double in the sixth off another Cleveland pitcher, keying Chatsworth’s 5-2 victory in a game for first place in the West Valley League.
‘He’s amazing,’ Cleveland Coach Greg Venger said. ‘You go in with a game plan to not let him beat you and he sees one pitch and it’s 2-0. It’s frustrating, but there are times you have to pitch to him.’
Chatsworth (16-4, 6-1), which won its seventh consecutive game, received a complete-game performance from Trevor Takeyama (7-1), who struck out four, walked two and scattered nine hits.
Reed (3-2) walked five and allowed four hits in five innings.
It was the 18th consecutive defeat Cleveland (17-4-1, 5-2) has suffered against the Chancellors over the last six seasons. Cleveland has come close, as in losing, 2-1, in last year’s City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium, but the Cavaliers continue to make mistakes and crack when Chatsworth applies the pressure.
Cleveland had one runner picked off first base and another thrown out at third when he was trying to advance from first on a single. At the same time, Chatsworth played errorless defense and Takeyama kept throwing strikes. His biggest pitch was striking out Jeremy Stearn on a 3-and-2 curveball with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.
For Cleveland, shortstop Niko Garcia had two singles, a double and played terrific defense. Catcher Rigo Ramirez had two hits.
Chatsworth was supposed to suffer because of the graduation of its first-round draft picks, shortstop Mike Moustakas and third baseman Matt Dominguez. But defensively, shortstop Kasey Toven and third baseman Ryan Cooperstone have filled in admirably, with Cooperstone starting a game-ending double play Wednesday.
Chatsworth has a one-game lead over the Cavaliers going into a rematch on Friday at Cleveland. The bad news for Cleveland is that Wharton, a returning All-City player, is just warming up. He was diagnosed with mononucleosis last month, lost 10 pounds and hasn’t pitched since. His strength and timing is coming back, and he can’t wait for another chance to face the Cavaliers.
-- Eric Sondheimer
-- Image from ballytech.com