Chatsworth Stops Threat, Buries Taft : City Section baseball: DeBiase strikes out the side with bases loaded in the first inning, then Chancellors take charge in 17-1 rout.

The momentum swing hit Taft High like an avalanche.

And the Toreadors could not dig their way out.

After Jim DeBiase worked out of a first-inning bases-loaded jam by striking out three batters in a row, Chatsworth went on to crush Taft, 17-1, Tuesday in the City Section 4-A Division baseball semifinals at Pierce College.

Chatsworth scored four runs in the bottom of the inning and controlled the game thereafter.

“That was really big,” Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn said of DeBiase’s performance, which restricted Taft to its only run. “He kept us in the game. Who knows how things would have worked out if they got a couple more across?”

Said Taft Coach Rich McKeon: “(The first inning) was a key. Maybe we maintain our composure and momentum if we cash in some runs. Maybe we stay in (the game).”

The Chancellors (22-7) will play El Camino Real (23-2)--a 6-0 winner over Monroe in the other semifinal--for the 4-A championship Thursday night at 7:30 at Dodger Stadium.

Chatsworth scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the Conquistadores, 3-2, for the 1990 title in Meusborn’s first season as coach. Chatsworth also won the 1983 City 4-A championship under current Pierce Coach Bob Lofrano.

“The kids didn’t need me at all today,” an elated Meusborn said. “They wanted it and they did it. They really got going after Jim sparked us.”

With the bases loaded in the top of the first, Taft jumped ahead, 1-0, after leadoff hitter Mike Ferguson scored on a fielder’s choice and an error. The bases remained full when Chatsworth second baseman Rod Daryabigi dropped a throw from shortstop Bryan LaCour, who fielded the grounder.

Then DeBiase went to work.

The Toreadors’ Brandon Witkow and Adam Shotland watched helplessly as DeBiase blew fastballs by them for third strikes. DeBiase deviated slightly in recording the inning’s final out.

John Soto tried unsuccessfully to catch up with a letter-high fastball and struck out swinging to end the inning--and send Taft reeling. The Toreadors (19-10) did not get a hit or a run after that.

“I knew that was the time I had to throw strikes,” DeBiase said.

The Chancellors batted around and scored four runs in the bottom of the first against Taft senior left-hander Justin Siegel (1-2). Leading, 8-0, in the fifth, Chatsworth sent 12 batters to the plate and scored nine runs to complete the rout.

DeBiase went six innings, allowing two hits and striking out five in improving to 12-3. Right-hander Doug Sidwell pitched a perfect seventh to close the game.

Leadoff hitter Mark Lopez and clean-up hitter Brandon Murphy led Chatsworth at the plate.

Lopez was one for two with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Murphy was four for five with two doubles and five RBIs.

“You could see they were down after the first,” Murphy said. “You could see in their eyes they weren’t feeling too good about it.”