Kennedy beats Chatsworth to win City softball championship

Granada Hills Kennedy beat Chatsworth, 1-0, to win the City Section softball championship Wednesday, but the victory came with some controversy.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, Kellie Mason hit a line drive to second base that was ruled a catch. Ashley Waters then threw home for the double play, but the catcher did not tag Danielle Estrada, who was the runner from third.

Kennedy Coach Craig Becker had Estrada return to third and tag up as Chatsworth left the field, and because Chatsworth didn’t throw to third to appeal, the run counted.

The umpires said that the option was open for Chatsworth to appeal that Estrada left from third early, and the team’s coach, Jay Creps, realizes that his silence was a mistake.

“In hindsight,” Creps said, “I should have put that ball back into play. I don’t think the run should have scored.”

Third-seeded Kennedy (24-6) held on to pull off their first City Section championship since 1982 over fourth-seeded Chatsworth (25-6) at Cal State Northridge.

The game was a pitchers’ duel, and the winning pitcher Christian Carbajal (22-5) tossed a two-hitter and struck out eight.

“I’m just amazed right now,” said Carbajal, who is blind in one eye. “It’s not only me, it’s the whole team.”

Carbajal lost her vision in her left eye when a soccer ball accident in eighth grade left her with a crushed retina. Doctors advised her to quit playing softball, but she refused, and this win has taken on a special meaning for her.

“Its like, ‘Yeah I can do this,’ ” Carbajal said. “I did this. You can’t tell me no.”

Chatsworth’s best chance to even up the score came at the top of the fifth when Katie Hasenfus reached on an infield single, advanced to second on Kennedy Johnston’s sacrifice bunt and made it to third on a fielder’s choice. But Carbajal escaped the inning by walking Chelsea Anaya and striking out Ashley Waters.

Chatsworth’s ace, Cheyenne Coyle, gave up two hits, walked four and struck out two.

Kennedy and Chatsworth knocked off the top-seeded teams, San Pedro and Carson, to reach the title game.

“It’s like a dream come true,” Becker said.

melissa.rohlin@latimes.com