CHATSWORTH BLASTS INTO FINAL JUNIOR'S SIX RBI LEADS SEMI ROUT CHATSWORTH 15, SOUTH GATE 5.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Oliver Padre wanted another shot at trying to beat an El Camino Real of Woodland Hills baseball team that handed Chatsworth its only two league losses of the season.

Padre almost single-handedly made sure he got his wish. The junior had three hits and six RBI as top-seeded Chatsworth routed visiting South Gate 15-5 in the City Section semifinals Tuesday to set up an all-West Valley League final Saturday against No. 2 El Camino Real.

``Ollie was phenomenal today,'' Chatsworth coach Tom Meusborn said. ``He's the story of the game.''

Just as fourth-seeded South Gate was starting to creep back into the game, Padre broke it back open with a three-run home run in the sixth inning. The Chancellors scored seven runs with two outs in the sixth to put the mercy rule in effect, ending the game and putting the defending champions in the title game for the third consecutive year.

``It's very exciting,'' Padre said. ``This is what we've been working for all season, to get to Dodger Stadium, and playing El Camino will make it even better.''

Chatsworth (29-3) didn't waste any time getting to South Gate ace Isaac Morales (10-2), who had defeated another West Valley team, Cleveland of Reseda, in the quarterfinals. The Chancellors took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and chased Morales by the third. Morales allowed eight runs on eight hits in two-plus innings.

Chatsworth supported starter Darren Norris (11-1) with 14 hits off three South Gate pitchers.

The big hits, in addition Padre's, included an RBI triple by Matt Dominguez, an RBI double by Carlos Najar, and Mike Moustakas' game-ending, two-run double off the center-field wall.

The Rams (30-5) tied the score in the second inning, but Chatsworth answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning - highlighted by Padre's two-run double - to go ahead for good.

South Gate chipped away at the Chancellors' lead with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, and it had the tying run on base after a bases-loaded walk by reliever Moustakas.

Padre shifted the momentum in the bottom half of the inning when he blasted a two-out, full-count curveball over the left-field fence to extend Chatsworth's lead to 11-5.

``That was the dagger to them,'' Padre said. ``That took all the energy out of their team.

``You look for those moments. I was anxious to get up there and see what I could do. I just saw the pitch and went with it.''

Pinch-hitter Bobby Coyle drove in two more runs, and Moustakas doubled in the two runs that ended the game.

``It hasn't even sunk in yet,'' Meusborn said. ``Obviously, it's always an honor to be playing in the final, and we're looking forward to a good game against El Camino.''

The Chancellors are in the final for the sixth time in eight years. The last time they faced El Camino Real for the championship was in 1998, when the Conquistadores won.

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Chatsworth's Oliver Padre (19) is greeted by teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning Tuesday.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

Box:

CHAMPIONSHIP