Nine-Time Champ Chatsworth Is One Baseball Win From Return to City Final

After winning a City Section-best nine baseball championships, including seven over the past 11 years, Chatsworth High is one step from returning to Dodger Stadium for another final on June 5.

The Chancellors (23-5) play Birmingham (17-14) in the Division I semifinals Wednesday at USC. First pitch is at 3 p.m., and the other semifinal between defending champion El Camino Real and San Fernando is scheduled immediately after.

Considering Chatsworth has twice defeated Birmingham in West Valley League competition, winning 6-2 on May 11 at Birmingham and 11-1 on May 13 at home, the top-seeded Chancellors figure to be an overwhelming favorite. However, Birmingham is a Cinderella team that has come through with consecutive upsets in the playoffs, including a 3-2 win over Granada Hills on Thursday, so the Patriots can be dangerous – especially with returning All-City pitcher Kevin Torres on the mound.

“We’re excited to play Birmingham. They’re a good team, and we definitely have our hands full,” Chatsworth pitcher/outfielder Steven Karkenny said.

All four semifinalists are from the San Fernando Valley, no big surprise considering a San Fernando Valley team has won the City title 37 times over the past 38 years.

Chatsworth advanced with a 5-2 victory over visiting Taft in the quarterfinals Thursday, as Aaron Brown earned the pitching win, going five innings while allowing two runs on three hits while striking out eight, and he also contributed two hits and three RBIs.

Raul Camas added a home run, and right-hander Christian Lopez pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

Chatsworth last won a title in 2009, falling in the semifinals last year. The Chancellors also won titles in 2008, 2007, 2004, 2003, 2001, 1999, 1990 and 1983, and they’ve finished as a runner-up five times, the last in 2006.

On Tuesday, Chatsworth defeated Westchester 15-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Overall, the Chancellors have won nine games in a row, and just one of Chatsworth’s five losses this season was to a City Section opponent.

With six days between games, Chatsworth should have all of its top pitchers ready for Birmingham, including standouts Brown, Karkenny, Lopez and Angel Rodriguez.

KEEPING TABS

Mike Moustakas, who graduated in 2007 as California’s all-time career home run leader before being drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Royals, is playing triple-A in the minor leagues. The third baseman is batting .260 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 43 games for Omaha.

YOU’RE HIRED

Raquel Alotis is the new girls basketball coach at Sierra Canyon High, replacing T.J. Knox, who resigned.

Alotis was coaching at El Camino Real, and she previously coached at Chatsworth.