Robbins Raises Pitching Mark to 40-1

It would be difficult to find a pitcher with a better winning percentage than Ryan Robbins.

Robbins’ cumulative high school and American Legion record improved to 40-1 on Friday after he earned the decision in Valley Chatsworth’s 9-8 victory over Kalani, Hawaii, in the Western Regional at Nevada Las Vegas.

“It’s just incredible,” Coach Tom Meusborn of Chatsworth High said.

Robbins’ record could be even better had the Cal State Northridge-bound right-hander not missed two weeks in July with a shoulder injury.

“I’m feeling a lot better now,” said Robbins, who is 7-0 this summer. “I’m ready to go.”

Scott Sellz (7-3) is scheduled to pitch today against Tucson in the final game of pool play.

Robbins said he would be available should Chatsworth advance to the regional semifinals on Sunday.

Mike Kunes (5-1), who threw 123 pitches Thursday in the tournament opener, may also be ready.

Robbins didn’t exactly over-exert himself Friday, throwing 14 pitches in relief of Charles Kenny in the ninth to hold an 8-8 tie.

Kenny led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to give Robbins the victory.

Robbins is 25-0 during his Legion career and was 15-1 in two varsity seasons at Chatsworth High.

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Assistant Mike Encinas will take over Valley Chatsworth today, becoming the team’s third head coach this week.

Third-year Coach Matt LaCour accompanied the team to Las Vegas and attended the pre-tournament banquet, then returned to the Southland for his wedding this afternoon.

Meusborn coached Thursday and Friday, but left town this morning to participate in LaCour’s wedding.

Encinas is a junior varsity baseball assistant and the boys’ soccer coach at Chatsworth.

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Matt Cassell was an important member of Chatsworth High’s City Championship baseball team last spring and is one of two starters to return for the 2000 season.

But after committing to play quarterback at USC, Cassell elected to skip the Legion season to focus on his football development.

While his baseball teammates were playing Kalani on Friday, Cassell was at school, taking pictures for the football program.

“I missed out a little bit on that,” he said of the Legion season.

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No team from the region has advanced to the Legion World Series since 1992, when Newbury Oaks won the title.

Woodland Hills West won the World Series in 1989.

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Center fielder Chad Redfern was incorrectly introduced Friday as Chad “Redfield.”

An angry Valley Chatsworth booster walked into the Nevada Las Vegas press box and called the public address announcer a “moron.”

Pete Redfern, Chad’s father, took it in stride.

“That’s my son, Chad Redfield, out there in center fern,” he told fans.

Staff writer Paige A. Leech contributed to this notebook.