Chancellors Throw a Surprise Curve

All season, right-hander Ryan Robbins pitched in the shadows of teammates Mike Kunes and Scott Sellz, quietly and efficiently going about his business while helping Chatsworth High make another determined drive toward Dodger Stadium.

Robbins, aided by a hitting barrage, on Tuesday delivered the Chancellors to the City Championship final at Chavez Ravine with a 12-2 victory over South Gate in a semifinal game at Birmingham High called after six innings because of the 10-run rule .

“Whenever they need a pitcher to pitch, I’m there,” Robbins said.

Robbins (8-0), a senior, scattered six hits, striking out four and walking one. He was in trouble only twice, when South Gate (20-12) loaded the bases on consecutive singles with two out in the second inning, but couldn’t score, and in the third, when the Rams scored their first run.

“I was pretty anxious,” Robbins said. “I wanted to go out there and throw.”

The top-seeded Chancellors (26-3) advanced to their second consecutive final, where on Thursday they will face Poly (25-7) with a rested Kunes (12-1) and Sellz (6-1) available to Coach Tom Meusborn.

“To tell you the truth, pitching Ryan [against South Gate] wasn’t my idea,” Meusborn said. “[Assistant Matt] LaCour and [assistant Chuck] Hatfield talked me into it.”

Any uneasiness about starting Robbins quickly vanished when the Chancellors got to right-hander Fernando Hernandez (7-3) with three runs in the first inning, including one on a double to center by second baseman Jason Spector, who had three hits, including two doubles, and two runs batted in.

“I told Coach before the game that the bat felt light,” Spector said. “I told him, ‘I’m having a day.’ ”

Chatsworth padded the lead to 5-1 on Matt Cassel’s two-run double in the third against Juan Rios and scored five runs in the fifth with the aid of two errors.

The Rams, seeded No. 12, scored in the sixth on a one-out double, but shortstop Matt Fisher hit a two-run double to left in the bottom of the inning.

Fisher had three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs and center fielder Chad Redfern had three hits.

The Chancellors won the City title in 1990 and finished second three times this decade, including last year.

“We want to come out and make a statement,” Fisher said.