Baseball: Chaminade upsets Crespi in Mission opener

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Brandon Rapoport’s squeeze bunt in the bottom of the eighth inning scored the winning run to lift West Hills Chaminade past Encino Crespi, 4-3, in a Mission League opener at Chaminade.

The Eagles (4-2, 1-0) pretty much stole the victory. Crespi (5-1, 0-1) was cruising along with a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning and had ace Ryon Healy on the mound. Healy, 13-0 lifetime, suddenly called Coach Scott Muckey to the mound. Healy took himself out after feeling discomfort with his arm. He went to first base.

Chaminade tied the game in the sixth off reliever John Kearns on consecutive home runs by Brando Tessar, a two-run shot, and Ryan Kramer.

Tessar pitched seven innings, striking out nine. Healy stayed in the game at first base, but Chaminade Coach Frank Mutz refused to let him hit. Twice he ordered intentional walks to Healy, and the Celts could never make the Eagles pay.

In the eighth, Dylan Delaney led off with a walk and Tessar followed with a single. After a strikeout, Rapoport put his bunt down to score the winning run.

In other Mission League games, Los Angeles Loyola defeated Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 4-3. Mission Hills Alemany defeated North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, 6-4. Sophomore pitcher Peter Van Gansen threw three scoreless innings to pick up the save. Andrew Davidson had a two-run triple.

-- Eric Sondheimer