Silver Gives Chatsworth Bold Relief in 6-4 Win

Chatsworth High pitcher Andrew Silver made his mid-game prediction as good as gold as the sixth-seeded Chancellors defeated third-seeded Carson, 6-4, in a City Section 4-A Division quarterfinal Thursday at Carson High.

Chatsworth (22-6) will face Poly in Tuesday’s semifinals.

After relieving starter Stuart Sellz in the fourth inning with runners at first and second, nobody out and Chatsworth ahead, 4-2, Silver induced Jason Wynia into a fielder’s choice but then gave up a game-tying double to Jason Bennett.

The left-hander escaped the inning without further damage and stormed into the dugout, where he made his bold prediction.

“Just give me one more run and this game is over,” Silver told his teammates.

He got the run in the fifth when Frank DiPoma blasted a fastball over the left-field fence. DiPoma, who had two of Chatsworth’s four hits, added a run-scoring single in the seventh.

The home run turned out to be all Silver (7-3) needed, but it wasn’t easy.

The Colts (23-9) loaded the bases with one out in the seventh against Silver, who allowed three hits and one run over four innings. Silver struck out Fernando Garcia and retired Eric Burris--a .359 hitter with three home runs--on a fly to center field.

“I had a lot of confidence in my ability and I knew my teammates would make the plays,” Silver said. “We played with a lot of heart going on the road against a higher seed. It’s a great win.”

Carson’s Mike Hernandez (9-2) walked four batters and allowed two hits in the first inning as Chatsworth jumped to a 4-0 lead.

Greg Wold and David Sark each drew bases-loaded walks in the inning and Micah Berger had a run-scoring single. Hernandez, who struck out 11, did not allow another hit until DiPoma’s homer.