American Legion Playoffs : Van Nuys-Notre Dame Stops Chatsworth

Minus several key players, Chatsworth resorted to a revolving door to the pitching mound Wednesday at Birmingham High. But five pitchers were not enough to stop Van Nuys-Notre Dame, which was retired in order only once en route to a 9-5 victory over Chatsworth in the first round of the District 20 playoffs.

Van Nuys collected 12 hits, five for extra bases, in support of Mike Peterson (5-1), who earned the victory after pitching out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings.

“We had the opportunities, we just didn’t come up with the key hit,” Chatsworth Coach Fred Bluhm said.

Chatsworth (20-6) had the door to home plate slammed shut, leaving 12 runners on base. It scored only once after loading the bases with one out in both the sixth and seventh innings, then stranded two more runners in the eighth.

Van Nuys jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first, scoring unearned runs on Chris Lohman’s two-run double off Chatsworth starter Rex McMackin. Chatsworth responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but was silent for the next four innings.

In the third, Kevin Milligan and Vinnie Orlando hit back-to-back doubles to give Van Nuys a 5-2 lead. Carlos Campos entered in relief of McMackin and struck out Rob Kostenbader to end the inning.

But a single and two errors led to two more Van Nuys’ runs in the sixth and Campos gave way to Sean Bowen, who had not pitched in two months. Bowen induced Jeff Antoon to ground out to end the threat.

Chatsworth is without pitchers Charlie Winner (injured elbow) and Derek Wallace (broken thumb). Bluhm said before the game that he would have to shuffle his staff and depend upon hitting to get through this double-elimination tournament.

“This is the way we’ve been for the last few weeks with our starters out,” Bluhm said. “And this is the way we’ll be the rest of the way.”

But the hitters faltered in the clutch. In the sixth, Nick Schultz popped up and Bowen struck out with the bases loaded. In the seventh, Greg Biley popped up, and after a walk to Art Lowe forced home a run, Peterson struck out Vince Simili.

Dave Waco’s triple and singles by Rich Aude and John Haselbusch cut Van Nuys’ lead to 9-5 in the eighth, but Kevin Milligan moved from catcher to pitcher and retired five of the six batters he faced.

Peterson struck out six and walked four in allowing 12 hits through 7 innings for Van Nuys. The right-hander was Coach Jody Breeden’s most consistent pitcher during the final weeks of the season.

“They got the bases loaded a couple of times. Obviously, he got out of the key innings,” Breeden said.

Peterson said that although he wasn’t throwing a lot of strikes, he constantly changed speeds to keep Chatsworth off balance.

“I didn’t feel that strong, but I kept it in and out and I was getting a lot of outs,” Peterson said.

After surrendering two runs in the first, Peterson retired 13 of the next 16 batters, allowing just three balls out of the infield.

In today’s second-round games, Van Nuys (17-10) meets Newhall-Saugus (Santa Clarita)--a 9-5 winner over Reseda--at 3 p.m. at Birmingham. Chatsworth plays Reseda at 11 a.m. at The Master’s College.

Woodland Hills (West) 6, Encino-Crespi 5--Trailing, 5-3, West rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth and another in the 10th for the win at Birmingham High.

In the ninth, a run scored on an error by Encino-Crespi second baseman Greg Barton and Mike Kerber’s infield single off right-hander Dan Carroll (8-2) tied it.

In the 10th, Denny Vigo led off with a single to center. Vigo was replaced by pinch-runner Paul Geller, who was sacrificed to second by Del Marine an out later. Steve Smith singled home Geller with the game-winner. West plays Studio City today at 3 at Master’s.

Reliever Lance Gibson (8-1), who struck out the only batter he faced in the top of the 10th, earned the win.

For West (23-4), Vigo was 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Studio City 7, Burbank 2--Right-hander Chris Romo allowed four hits in seven innings and Studio City (17-9) scored three runs in the second and two in the third at Master’s.

Romo singled to lead off the second and later scored on a single by Peter Ortiz. Eric Hinojosa singled home Ortiz and Hinojosa scored one out later on a sacrifice fly. Donnie Kelley homered in the second for Studio City.

Ortiz and Hinojosa both were 2 for 4 for Studio City and Romo (7-0) struck out four and walked two. His brother, Nino, relieved in the eighth and pitched two scoreless innings.