Chatsworth Lets Wallace Play the Field

Junior right-hander Derek Wallace recorded eight saves and posted a 7-0 record in relief for Chatsworth High in 1988, which was a big reason the Chancellors strong-armed their way to a No. 1 national ranking for much of the season.

Next year, the quandary facing the coaching staff would seem to be whether Wallace should continue as a relief ace or make the move into the starting rotation.

Guess again, and try this transition: Wallace might be Chatsworth’s next shortstop, taking over for graduating senior Dave Waco. Or he may be the next first baseman. Or neither of the above, or both.

This is a game of either/or at its finest. When Wallace shows up to play his American Legion games for the Chatsworth team, he may be the last to know where he fits in.

“He can play any infield position,” said Chatsworth American Legion Coach Joe Koh, who is also an assistant with the high school varsity. “Right now, we’re trying to find a place that’s most helpful to the team and that protects his arm at the same time.”

Wallace started several games at second base for Chatsworth High--he batted .389 and had seven doubles--and has thus far seen action for the Legion team only as a starting pitcher. Looking ahead to his senior year, Wallace, an All-West Valley League selection, could play a variety of roles for the Chancellors, who have won or shared eight consecutive West Valley titles. The team’s two starting pitchers, Pierre Amado and Shawn Bowen--a combined 16-2 this year--are graduating.

“It’s hard to take a guy with that much success as a reliever and make him do something else,” Koh said. “But we’d like to see what he can do as a starter, but we may need him at short, where it would be hard to make those long throws to first after pitching seven innings.

“He may be a short reliever and a shortstop. We’re going to try a bunch of different things this summer,” Koh said of his options regarding Wallace.

During high school team practices for the L. A. Games, which begin Saturday, Wallace has been playing shortstop. He also has worked out at first base during Legion practices. Wallace says he does not really have a preference.

“When I play short and make the plays, I really like it,” Wallace said. “And when I blow it, it stinks.”

Wallace led Valley City Section pitchers with 18 appearances last season and was perhaps the City’s only true relief specialist. But he expects to pitch both as a starter and reliever next season.

“What we’re basically working on is getting my endurance up so I can be a starter,” Wallace said. “But I think I’ll probably be doing some relief work, too.”

Results as a starter have been mixed. In 10 innings of Legion play, Wallace (1-0) has walked eight and allowed four earned runs.

Despite the experimenting, Chatsworth is 7-0 and is the only unbeaten team in District 20. Chatsworth plays Newhall-Saugus (Santa Clarita), the first-place Northern Division team, at 5:15 tonight at Saugus High.