Show Ball Has Chatsworth’s Number Again, 15-8

Van Nuys Show Ball was in a must-win situation.

Valley Chatsworth, winless in three previous games against Van Nuys this season, remained in a no-win situation.

James Rivero hit a tie-breaking solo home run in the seventh inning and Van Nuys went on to a 15-8 victory in a third-round game of the American Legion Area 6 baseball playoffs Saturday at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Chatsworth had taken a 2-0 lead after two innings and held a 6-4 lead after three. The teams were tied, 6-6, after four innings, 7-7, after five and, 8-8, after six.

“They really battled,” Rivero said. “We haven’t really had anybody push us like that all game, going back and forth like that.”

A six-run eighth inning by Van Nuys in which Rivero hit a two-run double put the game out of reach. Rivero finished with three hits and three runs batted in.

Van Nuys (27-2), which lost, 4-3, to Ventura on Thursday, scored in six consecutive innings from the third through the eighth to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament.

Van Nuys, which was eliminated by Chatsworth in District 20 playoffs last season, must win two games today to claim the championship.

Van Nuys plays District 16 champion Ojai-Santa Paula in an elimination game at noon. The winner will face Chatsworth in the title game at 4 p.m. Van Nuys lost to Santa Susana in the area championship game in 1998.

Despite the loss, Chatsworth (22-7) advanced to the championship game by virtue of victories over Westside on Thursday and Ventura on Friday.

Leadoff batter Gregg Wallis collected five hits for Chatsworth, including a two-run home run in the third.

“I was just trying to stay on the ball,” Wallis said. “It felt like a marathon out there. We really had to keep going, but we came up a little short.”

Ojai-Santa Paula 13, Ventura 8--Kyle Loughman had three hits and Sammy Guzman hit a double and a triple for Ojai-Santa Paula (25-6-1).

Ojai-Santa Paula 21, Westside 11--John Hill hit a two-run double in the third inning and a three-run double in the sixth for Ojai-Santa Paula in an elimination game.

Hill’s first double sparked a four-run third and stretched 5-3 lead to 9-3. His second double highlighted a seven-run sixth.

Aaron Segovia hit his fifth home, a three-run shot in the sixth, and finished with three hits and three RBIs for Ojai-Santa Paula.

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

Saturday’s Results

Game 7: Ojai-Santa Paula 21,

Westside 11

Game 8: Van Nuys Show Ball 15,

Valley Chatsworth 8

Game 9: Ojai-Santa Paula 13

Ventura 8

Today

At Jackie Robinson Stadium

Game 10: Van Nuys Show Ball vs.

Ojai-Santa Paula, Noon

Game 11: Valley Chatsworth vs.

Game 10 winner, 4 p.m.