Another Round of Challenges

Top-seeded Chatsworth, favored to reach the City Section championship game at Dodger Stadium, appears to have dodged a bullet in a quarterfinal game today.

Instead of facing Monroe ace John Ennis, the Chancellors will apparently get his brother.

Viking Coach Fred Pudrith said junior Ryan Ennis (2-2) will start a 3 p.m. game at Chatsworth.

John Ennis (9-3), who has signed a letter of intent with UCLA, looked sharp in throwing 110 pitches in a 4-1 victory over North Hollywood last Friday.

But with only three days’ rest, Pudrith will likely use a committee of pitchers.

Ryan Ennis last pitched May 8, earning a victory over Hawthorne in a Redondo Union tournament game.

“[John] was not physically ready to start [at practice Monday].” Pudrith said. “It was his call.”

John Ennis said he will be available to pitch an inning of relief.

“It’s not really likely,” Ennis said after practice Monday. “There’s a very small chance.”

Chatsworth will prepare the same way regardless of who is pitching.

“[John] Ennis is outstanding,” Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn. “We’ll prepare like he’s going to be in there at some point. We’ve faced some hard throwers in our league, guys like [Kennedy’s Jack] Cassel and [El Camino Real’s Kurt] Birkins.”

The Chancellors’ lineup is loaded with strong hitters, and none may be hotter than sophomore shortstop Matt Fisher.

After struggling in the No. 3 spot early in the season, Fisher was dropped three spots and has flourished, taking over the team lead last week with 41 runs batted in.

Ismael Marin (8-2) will likely start for Chatsworth (27-3).

The Chatsworth-Monroe winner will face either fourth-seeded Kennedy or fifth-seeded Westchester.

Senior Wes Crown, who will start for Kennedy, has the edge in experience in a battle of left-handed pitchers. Crown (6-3) has started for two seasons. Victor Butler (1-2) has pitched 17 innings for Westchester (23-9).

Butler will need to slow down Kennedy first baseman Tim Arroyo, who has had at least two hits in each of his last five games. Sergio Corona, a 250-pound first baseman, has 11 home runs for Westchester.

Sixth-seeded El Camino Real (16-8) plays at third-seeded Carson. The Conquistadores will start Birkins, who pitched a complete game in the first round. But Birkins only had to pitch five innings in a 12-0 victory over Poly.

Carson (24-8) will counter with either Anthony Joya (8-2, 1.14 earned-run average) or Patrick Bailes (2-1, 0.40).

Second-seeded Sylmar (21-6) hosts seventh-seeded Banning (23-9), which advanced to the final last year and easily handled Cleveland, 8-1, in the first round Friday.

Either Carlos Muniz (8-4), who pitched against the Cavaliers, or Oscar Amaya (8-2) will start for Banning.

Sylmar will likely start Mario Pacheco (7-3), who has pitched well at home this season, with ace Ivan Hernandez (10-2) waiting if Pacheco runs into trouble.

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Today’s Pairings

City Section 4-A quarterfinals (all games at 3 p.m.)

Monroe at Chatsworth

Westchester at Kennedy

El Camino Real at Carson

Banning at Sylmar