Baseball: ECR-Chatsworth showdown is set

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Let the real season begin. After two months of preparation and pressure, Chatsworth and Woodland Hills El Camino Real are headed for a two-game showdown Tuesday at El Camino Real and Thursday at Chatsworth to decide the West Valley League championship.

Chatsworth (20-3, 7-0) rallied for an 11-6 victory over Woodland Hills Taft on Friday. Chatsworth trailed, 3-0, after five innings and had been limited to one hit by Taft pitcher Jerry Barajas. That’s when the Chancellors scored eight runs, including a clutch two-strike single by Ricky Obando to tie the game and a grand slam from Steve Karkenny to break the game open at Taft, where the Chancellors had lost each of the last two seasons.

El Camino Real (14-10, 8-0) had no problem beating Granada Hills, 11-1, in five innings. Mitch Bluman got the victory, hit his seventh home run and finished four for four.

Now, the question is who has the edge, Chatsworth or ECR? The Conquistadores have dominated in West Valley play, having few close games. Chatsworth has struggled at times but pulled out victories.

Chatsworth is expected to get back talented first baseman Derek Neely on Tuesday. Neely has missed the last month with a broken hand. He’s expected to receive a doctor’s clearance but whether he’ll be ready to face the Conquistadores with little practice remains to be seen.

At the same time, Wilmington Banning will be playing San Pedro on Tuesday and Thursday to decide the Marine League championship.

Whatever happens in these four games will likely decide which team gets the No. 1 seed for the City Section Division I playoffs.

-- Eric Sondheimer