Winning the Hard Way : El Camino Real Claims Title Again After Blowing 6-1 Lead, Surviving in 9

El Camino Real High won a dramatic City Section 4-A Division championship, defeating rival Chatsworth, 7-6, in nine innings Monday at Dodger Stadium to claim its second consecutive title.

El Camino Real (23-7) also had defeated Chatsworth, 7-6, in last season’s championship game. It was the first time a team won two consecutive City titles since Granada Hills in 1979.

On Monday, El Camino Real took a 6-1 lead into the seventh inning but Chatsworth scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to force extra innings. However, two innings later, Conquistadores’ catcher Steve Riback scored on Ray Daryabigi’s throwing error to end it.

“It may not have been the prettiest game, but it was an uphill fight, a hard-fought game all around,” El Camino Real Coach Mike Maio said. “Both teams played well.”

El Camino Real first baseman Craig Carlton had three hits, including the final one. He singled to center in the ninth to advance Riback to third and when Daryabigi’s throw squirted past catcher Brandon Murphy, Riback sprinted home.

“Coach Maio said to get a good, quality at-bat,” Carlton said. “That’s what I tried to do.”

But the game did not appear like it would be close.

For six innings, El Camino Real High pitcher Randy Wolf huffed and he puffed and he blew Chatsworth batters down.

But the Chancellors, who managed only one hit against Wolf through six innings, exploded in the seventh.

“It didn’t look very good for us,” Murphy said. “But we’ve been there before, and we almost pulled off a miracle.”

Indeed. After all, Wolf (12-3) before Monday’s game had allowed only two runs in his previous 33 playoff innings over the past two seasons.

But with one out, Chatsworth suddenly began tagging last season’s City player of the year.

The Chancellors rapped out four hits and benefited from two El Camino Real errors to forge a 6-6 tie. The final two runs of the inning scored on an error by shortstop Matt Tays, who moved to his left to field a ground ball up the middle by Murphy, but the ball skipped off his glove into center field.

That came one batter after Chatsworth’s Rod Daryabigi scored on El Camino Real center fielder Justin Martin’s throwing error.

But Wolf, who pitched all nine innings and allowed six hits, three earned runs and had nine strikeouts, survived the seventh. He was named the MVP of the playoffs, winning three games and saving the other.

“This was the most amazing game I’ve ever played in,” Wolf said. “It was so incredible. I always knew we would win because this team has so much heart.”

Chatsworth’s Oscar Bocanegra (5-2) was the hard-luck loser, allowing three hits and no earned runs in six innings in relief of starter Jim DeBiase.

The game looked to be over after the Chancellors (28-5) surrendered five runs in a nightmarish first inning during which their normally solid defense fell apart.

With two men on and one out, Carlton drove in Martin with a single to left to make it 1-0.

Billy Burnette followed with a two-run double to left-center field to give the Conquistadores a three-run cushion. But they weren’t through, thanks to Chatsworth mistakes.

After Tays reached base on an error, Burnette scored on a passed ball. Tays then scored on a throwing error by shortstop Bryan LaCour to make it 5-0.

DeBiase endured his second consecutive rough outing, lasting only 2 2/3 innings.

El Camino Real added a run in the third inning when Tays’ long double to left-center field drove in Joey Maiden from first base.

Chatsworth scored a run in the third inning when Wolf balked with the bases loaded.

Wolf escaped a jam in the ninth by retiring the side after Chatsworth had a runner on second base and no outs.