San Fernando Rolls Past Error-Prone Chatsworth

In the first three innings Tuesday, San Fernando High hit eight fly-ball outs and had no hits.

That had played right into the hands of Chatsworth, which had recorded most of its outs this season on fly balls.

“We have not had too many chances on ground balls,” Chatsworth Coach Bob Lofrano said.

It showed when the Tigers started hitting balls on the ground. As a result, San Fernando defeated Chatsworth, 10-4, in a City 4-A quarterfinal playoff game at Chatsworth.

San Fernando (15-6) plays Grant in the semifinals Friday. Grant needed nine innings to defeat Birmingham, 3-2, Tuesday. The City title game will be played June 12 at Dodger Stadium.

The Tigers trailed, 1-0, entering the top of fourth inning when they went to their ground attack.

Chris Gonzalez began the fourth with a single up the middle off of Chatsworth starter John Hazelbusch (5-4). Frank Zavala then doubled over right fielder Marcelino Mendoza’s head to bring home Gonzalez. Troy Knox singled up the middle for a 2-1 Tiger lead.

Art Gutierrez singled to right and Randy Guerrero followed with a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third. Josh Bergara then hit a grounder to shortstop Rob Roseboro, who bobbled the ball for an error. It was the first of three Roseboro would commit. Chatsworth (14-7) made five.

“San Fernando put pressure on us by putting the ball in play,” Lofrano said. “Obviously, we did not react.”

After Roseboro’s first error, Manny Orozco squeezed home a run to give San Fernando a 4-1 lead.

Chatsworth, the West Valley League champion that entered the playoffs seeded third, tied the score with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With two out, John Dunn and Gary McMillan had RBI singles off of Bobby Aparicio (4-1). Dave Main then doubled to the wall in left to make it 4-4.

But San Fernando, which tied Granada Hills for the Mid-Valley League title, scored three in the fifth, aided greatly by two more Chatsworth errors. Zavala and Guerrero had run-scoring singles in the inning.

Chatsworth could do nothing after the fourth, collecting only one hit the rest of the game off the left-handed Aparicio, who went the distance. Aparicio gave up eight hits, while striking out five and walking none. He also picked two runners off first base.

The Tigers got their final three runs in the seventh, as again the Chancellors made two errors. After Roseboro’s third error made it 8-4, Robert Chavez and Marcos Castillo followed with RBI singles. Castillo had three of San Fernando’s 12 hits.