Familiar Finish for a Novice Starter : Chatsworth Reliever Wallace Stays for Duration in 7-3 Victory

Derek Wallace reckoned that this game wasn’t bad for a start--especially his first of the season.

“I feel great. This was a great game for me,” said Wallace, normally a relief pitcher for Chatsworth High.

Wallace, a junior right-hander, had reason to relish his performance: He went the distance and pitched an eight-hitter Thursday to lead the Chancellors to a 7-3 victory over Cleveland in a West Valley League baseball game at Chatsworth.

“This is the first time I’ve gone seven innings,” said Wallace, who started because Chatsworth is being forced to play three games this week to make up rainouts. Wallace struck out five, walked one and did not seem to mind the extra work at all.

“I just started throwing and I actually felt stronger as the game went along,” he said. “The last three innings, I felt really great.”

That was fortunate for Chatsworth (18-1, 10-0 in league play) because Wallace had to pitch out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the sixth before picking up the win to improve his record to 6-0.

With one out and Cleveland (4-10, 3-7) trailing, 7-2, the Cavaliers’ Eric Buss hit a single to right-center. Sean Burwell followed with a base hit to center and Tony Holiday singled to right. Bill Wickert got the Cavaliers’ fourth consecutive hit to drive in Buss and keep the bases loaded.

But Pat Bryant bounced one back to Wallace, who began a home-to-first double play to end the inning.

“He’s been doing that all year long for us,” said Chatsworth Coach Bob Lofrano, whose team is ranked No. 1 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball. “I won’t say there was no doubt, but I never had any intention of taking him out.”

Cleveland also scored in the first and the third, but Chatsworth countered with three runs in the first and three more in the fourth.