Early Lead Allows Chatsworth to Hold Off Sylmar, 9-5

Left-hander Mark Schauer scattered six hits and survived a three-run home run by Sylmar’s Rick Diaz in the seventh inning on Friday to pitch Chatsworth over the Spartans, 9-5.

The victory came in the first round of the City 4-A baseball playoffs and advances Chatsworth (14-6) to Tuesday’s quarterfinals where the Chancellors play host to San Fernando, a 6-1 winner over Carson on Friday.

At Chatsworth, Schauer increased his record to 9-1, striking out eight and walking only three. He started fast, retiring the first seven batters he faced.

“He mixed his pitches well out there,” Chatsworth Coach Bob Lofrano said. “And it’s nice when you can give up a three-run homer in the final inning and still breathe easy.”

Schauer survived the seventh-inning home run largely because Chatsworth staked him to an early lead. First baseman Joe Wolfe cracked a three-run homer on a 3-and-2 pitch in the first inning to give Chatsworth a 3-0 advantage.

The Chancellors were handed three more runs in the second inning when Sylmar pitcher Olonzo Woodfin couldn’t find home plate. He walked Gary McMillan, Dave Maine, and Van Duitsman to load the bases before striking out Brent Ruedy.

Woodfin (6-5) then walked Marcelino Mendoza to force in one run before Robert Roseboro cashed in two more runs with a single for a 6-0 lead.

Schauer encountered his first difficulties in the third. He yielded a one-out single to Shawn Fontenot and walked Dave Shelburne. A wild pickoff attempt by catcher John Dunn moved the runners to second and third before designated hitter Biff McGahan singled in the Spartans’ first run.

Shelburne then scored on a sacrifice fly by Isidro Rodriguez to cut the Chatsworth lead to 6-2. Schauer induced Diaz to fly out to center to end the rally.

Chatsworth knocked out Woodfin in the fourth with another three-run outburst keyed by Roseboro’s two-run single. Duitsman started the rally with a single and Mendoza drew a one-out walk. A wild pickoff throw by Woodfin to second advanced the runners before Roseboro’s single cashed them in.

A walk to Joe Wolfe finished Woodfin, who was relieved by Rodriguez. After Sal Barrocas flied out to center, Dunn singled in Roseboro with Chatsworth’s final run.

In the top of the seventh, Schauer walked pinch-hitter Gary Chambers and retired McGahan on a fly to right. Rodriguez then singled before Diaz took Schauer’s first pitch over the 345-sign in left to bring Sylmar’s supporters to life.

But Schauer blew strike three past Tony Taisacan and induced David Nunez to pop out to second to nail down the win and end Sylmar’s season at 11-8.