Hot Granada Hills Pounds Chatsworth

The streak is over for Coach Steve Thompson of Granada Hills High.

Thompson, a former Chatsworth assistant, was 0-11 against the Chancellors in five years at Granada Hills.

On Thursday, the Highlanders relied on the hitting of Ryan Braun and Erik Hagstrom, and the pitching of Jonathan Beal to defeat Chatsworth, 11-2, in a West Valley League game at Chatsworth.

It was the 10th victory in 12 games for Granada Hills (17-8, 8-4 in league play), which moved within two games of first-place Chatsworth (24-2, 10-2) with three to play.

“It feels great,” said Beal, who walked none and scattered nine hits.

Braun and Hagstrom each homered and had three hits to lead a 13-hit attack. Eddie Degerman had two run-scoring singles and Brendon Bartholomew added two hits.

Chatsworth committed three errors and left runners in scoring position.

“This was the worst game we’ve played all year,” Coach Tom Meusborn said.

A week ago, Chatsworth was 23-0 and cruising to its eighth consecutive league championship. Then the Chancellors lost to Birmingham last Friday.

After Thursday’s debacle, Meusborn isn’t panicking. But the Chancellors can’t wait to get senior catcher Danny Dominguez back in the lineup.

Dominguez has missed the last eight games because of a sprained ankle and is scheduled to return on Tuesday. He was the team’s second-leading hitter and a key contributor to the pitching staff’s success.