Chatsworth Scores Knockout, 13-1

If it was a prizefight, it would have been stopped after three rounds. Had an eight-run rule been in effect, it would have been stopped after five innings.

El Camino Real High, however, was forced to go the distance Wednesday against visiting Chatsworth. And, for the second time this week, Chatsworth scored another knockout, flattening El Camino Real, 13-1, to move three games ahead of the pack in the West Valley League race.

Chatsworth, which crushed Reseda, 18-2, Monday, has outscored the opposition, 31-3, in the past two games.

On Wednesday, Chatsworth (14-1, 6-0 in league play) ripped Conquistadore pitchers Lance Gibson (2-4) and Patrick Treend for 15 hits, scoring four runs on five hits in the first inning, and six runs on six hits in the third. The Chancellors added two runs in the fifth and one in the seventh.

El Camino Real (4-6, 1-5) which lost to Cleveland on Monday, suddenly has dropped into sole possession of last place. And with arm injuries preventing senior right-hander Denny Vigo from pitching and Mike Stephenson from catching, the Conquistadores will have a tough time getting up off the canvas.

“No excuses, no excuses,” El Camino Real Coach Mike Maio said. “We’ve dealt with those things before and now we have to deal with them again. We’ll still fight for a playoff spot.”

Chatsworth, meanwhile, appears to have the league title all but bagged. Senior left-hander Pierre Amado (6-1) appeared razor-sharp for six innings, yielding three hits and striking out seven.

“We’re confident, but we’re not going to get cocky,” said third baseman Joel Wolfe, who was 3 for 5. “We’re not even allowed to think that we have the league won.”

Valley-Area High School Track and Field Leaders