Valley Keeps Its Grip on Title

Chatsworth High’s pitcher is no ordinary Joe.

Left-hander Joe Guntz improved his career record to 25-0 Tuesday night, outdueling Joram Iboa of Roosevelt to lift Chatsworth past the Roughriders, 2-1, in the City Championship game before 3,536 at Dodger Stadium.

In 21 playoff innings, Guntz (14-0) limited opponents to one run while relying on a Chatsworth defense that committed one error in four games.

Guntz struck out 10, walked five and gave up four hits. He did not have his best control, but the seventh inning told the story why he has never lost in high school.

With one out, Roosevelt’s Raul Ramirez hit the ball off Guntz’s glove. Guntz threw the ball into the dugout for an error, putting the tying run on second base.

Others might have started feeling heartburn. Not Guntz. He struck out Iboa for the second out, then walked Edgar Sedano, putting the potential winning run on base. Up came Francisco Figueroa, Roosevelt’s best batter. After running the count full, Guntz struck out Figueroa on a called third strike.

“I scared myself today,” Guntz said. “I was throwing hard but not hitting my spots.”

Said second baseman Gregg Wallis: “He’s a competitor. Even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he finds a way to get it done.”

Besides Guntz and its defense, Chatsworth unveiled another weapon. Jon Selman, who began the season as a starting right fielder, then lost his job after an injury, came off the bench in the fourth inning to deliver a pinch-hit, run-scoring single that proved to be the game-winning hit.

“This was a dog fight,” Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn said. “Pitching and defense--that’s what’s done it for us all season.”

The aura of playing at Dodger Stadium combined with its large confines did not help Roosevelt (24-9-1). Sophomore catcher Art Gonzalez was under constant pressure behind the plate, with Chatsworth trying to steal bases at every opportunity. The Roughriders ended up with two wild pitches and one passed ball.

In the first inning, the Chancellors showed their aggressiveness, with George Spadier stealing second after a two-out walk. Jared Halpert followed with a run-scoring single.

A dropped fly ball by right fielder Figueroa in the fourth helped Chatsworth increase its lead to 2-0. Pinch-hitter Selman drove in Jason Dominguez with a run-scoring single to right.

Roosevelt ended Guntz’s playoff scoreless streak at 18 2/3 innings when Iboa hit a run-scoring single in the fifth, scoring Gonzalez, who had doubled.

Roosevelt’s march through the playoffs as the 15th-seeded team earned the Roughriders respect, and Iboa’s pitching performance only enhanced it. He gave up five hits, struck out seven and walked four.

It was the 28th time in 29 seasons that a San Fernando Valley team has won the City Championship, including four by Chatsworth.

In the City Invitational final, Byron Grubman retired the first 17 batters and Robert Marcial went three for three with two doubles to lead Cleveland (23-11) to a 5-1 victory over Eagle Rock.

Michael Sanchez of Eagle Rock (16-10) broke up the perfect game with a two-out bunt single in the sixth. Grubman struck out six and gave up four hits in 6 1/3 innings.