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Valley Roundup : Notre Dame Stuns Chatsworth, 6-5

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Notre Dame High rallied for two runs in each of the last three innings Monday to shock Chatsworth, 6-5, in the second round of the Westside baseball tournament at Chatsworth.

The Knights’ victory, however, was not without controversy, which was generated by a fifth-inning balk by Chatsworth right-hander Reed McMackin that resulted in Notre Dame’s second run.

With two out and Chatsworth leading, 4-1, Notre Dame’s Vinnie Orlando was allowed to score from third after McMackin halted his wind-up. The second base umpire made the call, unaware that the home plate umpire had apparently raised his hand to signal time out.

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“You put your hand up!” said Chatsworth Coach Bob Lofrano, who protested for five minutes.

Said Lofrano afterward: “He agreed that he put up his hand. He justified it by saying he didn’t yell, ‘Time!’ ”

Said McMackin: “I’m in my wind-up, I take a step back, drop my head like I always do and when I look up his hand is up. There is no reason anybody--I don’t care who you are--stops in the middle of a wind-up with a runner at third base.”

Notre Dame Coach Bob Mandeville seemed to agree. “If an umpire raises a hand to my pitcher, I expect my pitcher to stop.”

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Notre Dame sophomore right-hander Cary Wichman stopped Chatsworth with an effective curve. Wichman struggled early, as Chatsworth (1-1) struck for two first-inning runs on two hits. Wichman (1-0), however, went the distance, scattering four hits.

“The curve was working real good,” Wichman said. “We mixed it in a lot.”

Chatsworth scored two runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Senior Kevin Chong, who was three for four, singled to right field to drive in pinch-runner Chris Husted from third. The ball rolled between the legs of right fielder Chris Prince, allowing Nick Schultz to score from first.

Notre Dame (2-0) parlayed three singles into two sixth-inning runs to tie the score. Chatsworth added an unearned run in the bottom half of the sixth, but Notre Dame scored twice in the seventh.

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With two out and runners on first and third, Notre Dame’s Kevin Milligan reached base when catcher Eric Johnson dropped what would have been a game-ending third strike from reliever Jason Evans (0-1). Chris Lohman scored from third.

Prince then atoned for his error with a single to score Bobby Hughes with the winning run.

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