Chatsworth Rallies to Beat Birmingham

Facing one of its toughest tests of the season, top-ranked Chatsworth High (18-0, 4-0) rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat No. 11 Van Nuys Birmingham, 5-3, Monday in a West Valley League baseball game at Chatsworth.

Joe Guntz (6-0) raised his career record to 31-0 by scattering nine hits and outdueling Junior Garcia (6-1), one of two pitchers over the last two seasons to defeat Chatsworth. Jordan Sisson hit a two-run home run for the Chancellors.

Birmingham (17-2, 3-1) took a 2-0 lead on Luis Parra’s two-run double in the fourth inning. Chatsworth tied the score in the fourth on a run-scoring triple by Brett Munster and Ryan Barba’s run-scoring single.

Brian Lee’s sacrifice fly in the fifth gave Chatsworth a 3-2 lead. Sisson’s two-run home run in the sixth made it 5-2.

Birmingham had the tying runs on base in the seventh when Guntz got Raul Campos on a game-ending popout.