Chatsworth’s LaCour Offers Reseda a Hand, Gets Fist in Return : High school baseball: All-City shortstop punched in the stomach and knocked down during postgame ceremony.

Chatsworth High shortstop Bryan LaCour, an All-City Section 4-A Division selection, was punched in the stomach and knocked to the ground by a Reseda player during postgame handshakes Thursday after the Chancellors’ 7-2 victory in a West Valley League game.

LaCour was punched by Reseda third baseman Alonzo Arreola, who also was involved in an emotional incident when the teams played Tuesday. On a play at third base, Arreola tagged Chatsworth’s Brandon Murphy in the face. Several of Murphy’s teeth were chipped.

Reseda Coach Mike Stone, who said Arreola was provoked by Chatsworth bench jockeys, said he will suspend Arreola for the remainder of the season.

“It started Tuesday and it carried over and continued today,” Stone said. “He’s a very quiet kid and it just built up inside. He knew right off the bat it was uncalled-for, and it was 100% out of his character. I felt sorry for the Chatsworth kid. But to be honest, I feel more sorry for Alonzo.”

Also during Tuesday’s game--an 18-6 Chatsworth victory--a Reseda player was ejected after he attacked Chatsworth pitcher Jim DeBiase, who applied the final tag during a rundown play.

LaCour’s father, Jeff, said the family is considering filing assault charges against Arreola.

“I think something has to be done,” Jeff LaCour said. “It was totally uncalled-for.”

Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn and Stone said the exchange was an isolated incident and there was no threat of a brawl.

“I thought our guys did a nice job keeping their poise, and the rest of their guys did a good job, too,” Meusborn said. “Brian’s OK. He just got the wind knocked out of him.”

Stone called the incident inexcusable, the “ugliest” postgame exchange in his 22 seasons as a City Section baseball coach.

“I’m against the postgame handshake, because it just presented the opportunity for something like this to happen,” Stone said. “But (Arreola) does not deserve to be blasted.”

Chatsworth improved to 21-3 and 12-0 Northwest Valley Conference play with pitcher Oscar Bocanegra (2-0) going the distance.

Rod and Ray Daryabigi each had two hits and scored a run as the Chancellors won their 14th consecutive game. They have a three-game lead with five games remaining. Reseda fell to 6-11-1, 2-10.