Poly Doesn’t Have It Down to a Science

There’s no altar to what Francisco “Chief” Flores calls “the Dodger Stadium gods,” unless the outfield wall depicting former club greats qualifies as one.

But Flores says the Poly High (25-7) players who will play Chatsworth (26-3) in the City Championship final tonight at 7:30 at the stadium might be wise to pay their respects before the game.

“[The] gods haven’t been good to us,” Flores said.

Flores, whose brother Manny is slated to pitch for Poly tonight, played for the Parrots in the title game in 1992. It was the school’s third trip to the final and its third defeat.

The Parrots lost to Kennedy in the final four years later and will try to halt the frustration against top-seeded Chatsworth, another program that desperately wants to drop the bridesmaid label.

After winning the championship in 1990, the Chancellors were runners-up to El Camino Real three times, including last year.

Their goal from the start this season has been winning the City title and players have talked all along about what they would do when they got there, not if they got there.

“I’m really anxious to get there and win it this time,” shortstop Matt Fisher of Chatsworth said.

Fisher, a junior, played last year at the field the Chancellors simply refer to as “DS,” the dream destination for every high school City player. But the event’s magnitude and the venue’s magnificence can shake even the most confident youngster.

“I think it comes down to whoever can control their emotions first,” said Danny Phillips, who played for Chatsworth in the title game in 1994 and is an outfielder at Cal State Northridge.

“They’ve got to get their nerves together.”

Steve Guerrero, former Poly pitcher and now an outfielder who last week helped Chico State win the NCAA Division II championship, was on the short end with the Parrots in the 1996 title game.

Guerrero, who is making a seven-hour drive from Chico to attend the game tonight, agrees with Phillips.

“All these guys will have the adrenaline running through them and it’s either going to make them play better or tighter,” Guerrero said.

“You’re out in front of 5,000 people. If they play their game and don’t try to over-perform, they should be all right.”

That’s easier said than done, said Jim DeBiase, former Chatsworth pitcher and Northridge ace this season. He played in the title games in 1993-94.

“It’s really nerve-racking,” DeBiase said. “Some people can get overwhelmed by the whole thing. . . . After the first pitch, you tend to settle down.”

And, hopefully, enjoy the experience.

“It’s five years later and I still remember it like it was last night,” DeBiase said.

Guerrero, who is not related to second baseman Juan Guerrero of Poly, recalls fondly his game at Dodger Stadium.

“I wish I could go back and do it all over again,” Guerrero said.

“Until [Chico] won the national championship, it was the greatest day of my life.”

Regardless of who wins tonight, a Valley team will claim the title for the 25th time in 26 years. Of course, the players are rooting for their former teams, and some are even attempting to pull some strings.

“Hopefully, those Dodger gods will give us something to cheer about,” Francisco Flores said.

The Big Game

What: City Championship in baseball

Where: Dodger Stadium

When: Tonight at 7:30. Division final at 4 p.m.

Tickets: $7 general admission, $5 students, $2 children 12 and under

Television: KLCS, 9:30 p.m. tape delay

POLY (25-7)

Lineup

*--*

No. Player Pos. Yr. Avg. 15 Johnny Manuel SS Sr. .382 23 George Felix CF Sr. .327 3 Juan Guerrero 2B Sr. .450 43 Manny Flores P Jr. .393 10 Juan Flores 3B Sr. .387 30 Angel Espindola 1B Sr. .345 8 Albert Flores C Sr. .250 11 Jaime Perez RF So. .485 21 Eder Tapia LF Jr. .289

*--*

Coach: Chuck Schwal

Assistants: Bob Mesa, Randy Pistole

****

Leaders

*--*

Player H R HR RBI Juan Guerrero 46 41 7 48 Manny Flores 35 25 2 39 Johnny Manuel 39 42 4 32 Juan Flores 38 30 3 8 George Felix 37 34 3 21

*--*

*

*--*

Pitcher I K BB ERA Carlos Reguengo 98 108 52 1.92 Manny Flores 47 1/3 38 13 1.63

*--*

****

Playoff Victories

Marshall: 10-0

El Camino Real: 4-3

Kennedy: 6-4

****

Notes

* Second baseman Juan Guerrero leads City Section hitters in the region with 48 runs batted in. He has hit home runs in each of the last two playoff games. Last year, he bench pressed 225 pounds and this year has reached 300 pounds, helping explain his power surge.

* Pitcher Carlos Reguengo and third baseman Juan Flores were freshmen on Poly’s 1996 City final team. Reguengo was so excited to be at Dodger Stadium that he forgot to bring his cleats. * Sophomore left-handed pitcher Joe Hampel pitched consecutive no-hitters for the junior varsity before being promoted to varsity late in the season.

* Poly defeated Chatsworth in the 1992 and 1996 semifinals to reach Dodger Stadium.

CHATSWORTH (26-3)

Lineup

*--*

No. Player Pos. Yr. Avg. 4 Matt Fisher SS Jr. .398 10 Mike Kunes P Sr. .383 13 Scott Sellz LF Sr. .438 21 Steve Kracow RF Sr. .486 6 Jason Spector 2B Sr. .319 17 Chad Redfern CF Sr. .429 22 Matt Cassel DH Jr. .390 28 Jeff Spector 3B Sr. .316 35 Charles Kenny 1B Sr. .422 2 Scott Drake C Sr. .412

*--*

Coach: Tom Meusborn

Assistants: Matt LaCour, Chuck Hatfield, Mitch Root

****

Leaders

*--*

Player H R HR RBI Matt Fisher 41 36 5 34 Scott Sellz 39 28 7 32 Mike Kunes 36 33 5 22 Steve Kracow 35 25 1 21 Chad Redfern 36 25 5 24

*--*

*

*--*

Pitcher I K BB ERA Mike Kunes 77 1/3 81 17 2.26 Scott Sellz 58 47 39 2.90

*--*

****

Playoff Victories

San Pedro: 13-1

Roosevelt: 5-4

South Gate: 12-2

****

Notes

* Four members of Chatsworth’s team played on Northridge Little League’s 1994 World Series team--Matt Cassel, Matt Fisher, Scott Drake and Gregg Wallis.

* Chatsworth won City titles in 1983 and 1990.

* Right fielder Steve Kracow started the season as a reserve but has become the Chancellors’ top hitter with a .486 average because of a hitting surge that has seen him collect 23 hits in 34 at-bats over the last 11 games.

* Fisher, a starter since his freshman season, is considered one of the best fielding shortstops in the region. He has committed only six errors this season.