CHAMINADE'S RALLY LIFTS TEAM INTO SEMIS : CHAMINADE 7 REDONDO 6.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

It was the kind of dramatic comeback in playoff competition that stamps a team as a potential champion.

``We don't die in our ballpark,'' Chaminade catcher Ryan Hamill said. ``Everybody responded.''

Down by five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to USC-bound pitcher Jared Moon, Chaminade's top-seeded baseball team scored six runs to pull out a 7-6 win over Redondo in a Southern Section Division III quarterfinal game Friday in West Hills.

Chaminade tied the game at 6 when Mike Whitaker was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Then second baseman Chris Martinez beat out a perfect bunt to score freshman Dennis Mikulich with the go-ahead run.

Bruce Greenwood (10-1) threw three innings of shutout relief to move Chaminade into a Tuesday semifinal game against powerful Canyon of Anaheim, which beat Palm Desert 18-8.

How bleak did things look for the 27-2 Eagles? So bad that coach Scott Drootin was already thinking about what he'd tell his players to help them deal with defeat.

``But I looked at their faces and they didn't want to quit,'' he said.

The only hope for the Eagles was if Moon tired. And he did in the bottom of the sixth, finally coming out after a two-run double by Chris Gray cut Chaminade's deficit to 6-4. Through five innings, Moon had struck out two, walked none and allowed only three hits.

``I could see they (Redondo) were starting to relax and sit back a bit and was hoping they thought it was over,'' Drootin said.

Redondo (22-9) opened its 6-1 lead by knocking out Chaminade ace Gray, who lasted only four innings. Ethan Borman hit two home runs and Chris Peshke added another.

Chaminade's offense was led by Hamill, who hit his area-leading 16th home run to left field in the first inning. The ball landed on top of the Fine Arts building roof. He finished 3 for 3.

One of the Chaminade MVPs was Whitaker, who stood at the plate and got hit by freshman pitcher Bart Bixler with the bases loaded to drive in the tying run.

``I've never seen a guy so excited to get hit by a ball,'' Hamill said.

Then there was Martinez, a junior who possessed the instincts to lay down a bunt that nobody saw coming. ``It's always a gamble when you bunt with two outs, but sometimes you have to take a chance,'' he said.

Third-base coach Bill Picketts always offers to buy dinner for any Chaminade player who drives in a runner from third on a bunt. Martinez was planning his free dinner celebration afterward. One more win and he'll have his Saturday plans finalized - a trip to Anaheim Stadium.

THE COMEBACK INNING

Chaminade wiped out a 6-1 deficit with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday against Redondo:

Chris Martinez reached on a one-out error.

Dan Dworsky singled.

Ryan Hamill singled, scoring Martinez.

Tyler Dersom walked to load the bases.

Chris Gray hit a two-run double.

Brian Kirby reached on an error, scoring one run.

Nathaniel Dunlap walked to load the bases.

Spencer Gordon popped out.

Mike Whitaker was hit by a pitch, scoring the tying run.

Martinez hit a bunt single, scoring the winning run.

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Photo, Box

Photo: MARTINEZ

Box: THE COMEBACK INNING (See Text)