Baseball: El Camino Real knocks off Chatsworth

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With a 15-2-1 record and nine City Section championships, Chatsworth was expected to be ready for its showdown against six-time City champ El Camino Real on Wednesday in a West Valley League game. But the Chancellors played poorly, committing three errors and giving up four runs in the first inning and were beaten, 7-5.

Luke Laurita, a junior who threw six consecutive balls to start the game and faced a bases loaded, none-out situation in the second, hung tough and got through six innings to pick up the victory. Justin Russell got the save.

Jason Karkenny, who came in with a 6-0 record, didn’t make it out of the first inning for Chatsworth. After getting the first two batters to ground out, the next seven reached base, including a hit batter with the bases loaded and a walk with the bases loaded. El Camino Real opened a 4-1 lead.

Chatsworth came back to tie the game, 4-4, but Chris Nicholson had an RBI double in the third and Yannick Villanueva contributed a two-run pinch-hit single in the sixth for a decisive blow. El Camino Real improved to 11-10 and 2-1 in league. Chatsworth is 2-1 in league.

BIrmingham (3-0) took over sole possession of first place with a 4-2 win over Granada Hills. Daniel Rivas threw a complete game and Jerry Zaragoza had three hits, including a triple. Sam Costock had two hits for Granada Hills.

Taft defeated Cleveland, 2-1. Nick Gendian threw a five-hitter and singled in the winning run in the sixth. Harley Faye hit a home run for Cleveland. Ramsey Abushahla had a home run for Taft.

In the East Valley League, Gabe Guerra struck out 12 and threw a no-hitter in Verdugo Hills’ 9-0 win over Arleta. Guerra also had three hits. Verdugo Hills is 14-9 and 6-1 in league. Poly defeated Monroe, 13-0. Philip Marquez had three hits and two RBIs. He threw six innings, allowing two hits.

-- Eric Sondheimer