Valley Chatsworth Hits Playoff Stride

Valley Chatsworth, limping and stumbling the past couple weeks, won its second consecutive game, 9-3, over Ventura in the second round of the American Legion Area 6 baseball playoffs Friday at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Chatsworth, which split a late-season doubleheader with unheralded Rosamond and lost twice to Van Nuys Show Ball in the District 20 playoffs last week, appears to be playing its best baseball of the summer.

Today will be another test, however.

Chatsworth (22-6) has a difficult third-round game against Van Nuys, which defeated Chatsworth three times this summer--12-0, 6-0, 5-1.

“We’re finding ways to win late in the season, which is a good sign for our guys,” said Coach Matt LaCour of Chatsworth said.

“We’ve just got to find a way to beat [Van Nuys].”

Danny Dominguez had three hits, including a two-run single in the ninth, and Jared Halpert hit a solo home run in the fourth for Chatsworth.

Timely hitting, a key for Ventura in a 4-3 victory over Van Nuys on Thursday, was absent until the seventh inning against Chatsworth.

Ventura trailed, 4-1, but scored two runs on two walks, a bunt single and an infield single.

Ventura (20-9) got no closer, however, and moved a step closer to getting bounced from the double-elimination tournament.

“We’ve just got to come back and play [today],” said Coach Brian Harrison of Ventura, whose team plays the winner of the Ojai-Westside game.

“We’re still very much in this thing.”

Van Nuys Show Ball 18, Ojai 1--A day after losing for the second time this season, Van Nuys drubbed Ojai in a second-round game that was halted after seven innings because of the 10-run rule.

Brendan Ryan had four hits and Chris Dickerson had a double and triple for Van Nuys (26-2).

Ojai (23-6-1) plays Westside (17-5) in an elimination game this morning.

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American Legion

Area 6 Playoffs

Thursday’s Results

Game 1: Ojai-Santa Paula 3, Santa Monica 0

Game 2: Valley Chatsworth 5, Westside 4

Game 3: Ventura 4, Van Nuys Show Ball 3

Friday’s Results

Game 4: Westside 12, Santa Monica 11

Game 5: Van Nuys Show Ball 18, Ojai-Santa Paula 1

Game 6: Valley Chatsworth 9, Ventura 3

Today

At Jackie Robinson Stadium

Game 7: Ojai-Santa Paula vs. Westside, 10 a.m.

Game 8: Valley Chatsworth vs. Van Nuys Show Ball, 2 p.m.

Game 9: Ventura vs. Ojai/Westside winner, 6 p.m.

Sunday

At Jackie Robinson Stadium

Game 10: Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 9, Noon

Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 8/10, if necessary, 4 p.m.