Chatsworth Survives Scare From Grant

Was that really a No. 16-seeded team?

That’s what top-seeded Chatsworth High must be thinking after escaping with a 4-2 victory over Grant in a City Championship first-round baseball game Friday at Chatsworth.

The defending-champion Chancellors (25-1-1) will face No. 9-seeded Kennedy (20-11) in a quarterfinal Tuesday at Chatsworth. Chatsworth and Kennedy tied, 5-5, on March 16.

It was the 20th consecutive victory for the Chancellors, who are trying to reach their third consecutive final at Dodger Stadium on June 6. But it wasn’t easy.

Grant (17-10) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against left-hander Joe Guntz (11-0) when Brian Hauser singled in Ryan Maclean from third base with two out.

The Chancellors scored their runs in the bottom half, sending nine batters to the plate against right-hander Michael Marble (4-1).

Gregg Wallis led off with a walk, Brian Lee singled to left field and Matt Fisher walked, loading the bases.

Jacob Ball’s flyout to right field scored Wallis, with Lee taking third. Brett Munson’s single to left off a hanging curve scored Lee, with Fisher stopping at second base.

Shortstop Felipe Tetelboin bobbled Jared Halpert’s grounder for an error to load the bases and Danny Dominguez followed with a two-run single to center field.

That’s all the Chancellors got against Marble, who kept batters off balance with an assortment of off-speed pitches. Chatsworth finished with five hits, including two doubles by Fisher.

The Lancers pulled within 4-2 in the fourth on a flyout by Marble, scoring Tetelboin from third.

Grant threatened with one out in the sixth when Chris Penta doubled to left-center field and Marble was hit by a pitch. But Guntz struck out Arturo Gurrola looking and retired Emilio Gomez on a pop-up to Wallis at second.

Guntz completed his 11th game, allowing seven hits and striking out seven.

In other City Championship first-round games:

San Fernando 2, Marshall 1--Antonio Moscorro scored from second base on a bases-loaded groundout in the seventh inning to lift the Tigers (20-11) at San Fernando.

With one out, Manny Flores grounded to shortstop. Marshall (19-5) got the force at second, but the throw to first was late.

However, the first baseman mistakenly thought Marshall had completed a double play and began trotting toward the mound. His throw to the plate was late.

San Fernando loaded the bases on a single by Jordan Plasencia, who scored the tying run, a sacrifice and two walks.

Abraham Gonzalez (9-2) struck out three and walked none in pitching a four-hitter, his eighth complete game. Flores, Jesus Martinez and Moscorro each had two hits for the Tigers, who will host Banning in the quarterfinals.

Poly 2, Westchester 1--Zack Sims doubled and Jaime Perez singled, each driving in a run, in the fifth inning for the Parrots (22-8) at Poly.

Poly, which had four hits in the fifth, rallied after Westchester took a 1-0 lead in the second.

Joseph Hampel (6-4) struck out seven and walked one in a six-hitter for Poly.

Kennedy 6, Carson 1--Adam Geery (3-5) pitched a four-hitter with four strikeouts and hit a three-run double in the sixth inning to break open the game at Carson.

Tim St. Pierre had two hits and two runs batted in, and Danny Mata had a double, single and RBI for the Golden Cougars (20-11-1).

San Pedro 3, Granada Hills 0--Junior Eddie Degerman gave up six hits and struck out three for Granada Hills (15-12), but No. 3-seeded San Pedro capitalized on two errors and a wild pitch at Harbor College.

Richard Aguilar pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks for San Pedro (16-10), which scored two runs in the fifth. Jacob Molla had a double and an RBI.

INVITATIONAL

Monroe 5, Garfield 2--Vince Madelon had a three-run double to highlight a four-run second inning for the Vikings at Monroe.

John Andrade gave up two hits and two runs with six strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings for Monroe (11-17).

Birmingham 9, Narbonne 2--Neil Morrow (9-3) allowed four hits, one run and struck out five in five innings for the No. 2-seeded Patriots at Birmingham.

Junior Garcia broke the game open with a two-run triple in a five-run fifth inning. Graham Wintzer and Jerimah Bautista each had two RBIs for Birmingham (20-11).

Van Nuys 12, Palisades 8--Junior Jesus Rico had three hits, two RBIs and scored three runs for Van Nuys (9-20) at Palisades.

Abel Pulido had a two-run double and Jose Jimenez had a two-run single to highlight a five-run third inning.

North Hollywood 9, L.A. Wilson 4--Eder Banuelos scored on an error to snap a 4-4 tie in a five-run sixth inning for the Huskies (15-16) at North Hollywood.

D.J. Lewis had three hits and three RBIs for the Huskies.

Venice 6, Cleveland 3--Robert Marcial and Nick Arroyo each had two hits and one RBI for host Cleveland (12-15).

Bell 4, Verdugo Hills 0--Daniel Serrano gave up four consecutive singles and host Bell (14-13) capitalized by scoring three first-inning runs. Verdugo Hills finished 8-10.