El Camino Reality Hits Chatsworth, 5-2

Of course something strange was going to happen, this was Chatsworth High and El Camino Real playing for the City Section 4-A Division baseball title.

In the longest championship game since the title has been played at Dodger Stadium, sixth-seeded El Camino Real scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to upset top-seeded Chatsworth, 5-2, Thursday night before a crowd of 4,500.

El Camino Real, which lost all three regular season games to Chatsworth, won its fourth title in six years.

The Conquistadores and Chancellors have played for the City title four times in nine years, El Camino Real winning three. The three previous games were decided by one run, always with dramatic endings after numerous twists and turns.

Kurt Birkins (11-2), who was pounded by Chatsworth (29-4), in the last meeting three weeks ago, held the Chancellors to four hits and struck out 12, including Danny Eisenberg for the last out.

“I think his velocity was about the same, but his location was there tonight,” Chatsworth pitcher Mike Kunes said.

“It was a battle to the end. We made a few errors and they made a few. They just came out on top.”

Kunes (12-2) was nearly as effective for Chatsworth, at least for nine innings.

Kunes ran out of gas in the 10th, giving up consecutive singles to Woody Cliffords and Conor Jackson.

But the big hit belonged to Birkins, who hit a drive over the head of right fielder Chad Redfern for a double that scored two runs with one out.

“With two strikes I was just hoping to make contact,” Birkins said. “And I happened to get a hanging changeup. [Kunes] is a great pitcher. You have to take advantage of it.”

Brian Somoza hit Kunes’ next pitch to the base of the wall in right-center for another double, giving El Camino Real (19-9) its final run.

El Camino Real could have ended it earlier. The Conquistadores had a chance in the seventh after a leadoff single by Sean McElroy.

But pinch-hitter Timothy Harding’s bunt was fielded cleanly by third baseman Matt Cassel, who threw to shortstop Matt Fisher for the force. Kunes got Brandon Kahan to hit a fly ball to center field and struck out Matt Schwartz.

El Camino Real had better luck in the eighth, thanks to some shaky fielding by the Chancellors.

Cliffords hit a one-out single to right field, then was hung up off first base after breaking for second. But first baseman Sellz threw the ball into the dirt at second and Cliffords was safe.

Jackson hit Kunes’ first pitch to left field and Bryan Gant let the ball slip past him, scoring Cliffords.

Chatsworth was far from done. Redfern led off with a sharp single to center field and, one out later, Gant laid down a sacrifice that Birkins bobbled, leaving runners on first and second.

Danny Eisenberg hit a possible double-play ball to second baseman Brandon Kahan, but shortstop Jared Maiden threw the ball into the El Camino Real dugout after making the out at second. Redfern scored to tie it, 2-2.

Birkins was brilliant in the middle innings, retiring 12 consecutive batters. After giving up two hits in the second inning, Birkins didn’t allow another until the eighth.

Tom Morefield led off the second inning with a triple for Chatsworth and scored on a single by Sellz.

The Conquistadores tied it in the sixth inning, Maiden scoring from third when second baseman Danny Eisenberg couldn’t handle a ground ball by Birkins.

Cliffords, outstanding player of the playoffs, collected four hits.