CHATSWORTH DOESN'T FALTER GUNTZ GOES DISTANCE FOR EIGHT-HIT VICTORY, IMPROVES TO 31-0 CHATSWORTH 5, BIRMINGHAM 3.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer Joe Guntz almost seems to be teasing the opposition with his ability to get out of trouble. The Birmingham High of Van Nuys baseball team paid for its mistakes, but Guntz overcame his to improve his career record at Chatsworth High to 31-0. Guntz pitched a complete-game eight-hitter as Chatsworth defeated visiting Birmingham 5-3 in Monday's West Valley League game featuring teams that entered with a combined one loss. Birmingham (17-2, 3-1) took the initial lead with two runs in the fourth, had a runner in scoring position In the sport of baseball, a baserunner is said to be in scoring position when he is on second or third base. The distinction between being on first base and second or third base is that a runner on first can usually only score if the batter hits an extra base hit, while a runner on in the fifth and threatened again in the seventh by getting the tying run in scoring position. ``It got exciting today,'' said Guntz, who added to the drama with a wild pickoff pick·off n. 1. Baseball A play in which a runner is caught off base and is put out by a quick throw, as from the pitcher or catcher. 2. Sports An interception, as in football. throw to first base in the seventh to put runners on second and third, where they were stranded. Junior Garcia started Birmingham's seventh-inning rally with a double. Efrain Cervantes doubled in the run and Matt Silver followed with a walk. Then Guntz and his teammates came through with the type of clutch plays that have the Chancellors (18-0, 4-0) ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today USA Today National U.S. daily general-interest newspaper, the first of its kind. Launched in 1982 by Allen Neuharth, head of the Gannett newspaper chain, it reached a circulation of one million within a year and surpassed two million in the 1990s. . Chatsworth center fielder Jared Halpert made a sliding catch for the second out of the inning. One pitch after his wild pickoff throw, Guntz (6-0) induced a game-ending popup to shortstop. ``We always seem to get into some type of situation when he pitches,'' Chancellors third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Brett Munster said. ``Joe does a great job of battling back. We don't worry. ... That's a characteristic of our team, we come through with the clutch plays when we need them.'' Almost as if on cue, Chatsworth scored two runs in the fourth after Birmingham had scored two in the top of the inning. The Chancellors hadn't advanced past first through the first three innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. as Patriots pitcher Garcia (6-1) had allowed only two hits and was helped by a double play and a runner caught stealing For meanings outside baseball, see . In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder . Munster started the scoring by tripling in Jason Dominguez on a play in which Birmingham right fielder right fielder n. Baseball The player who defends right field. Noun 1. right fielder - the person who plays right field outfielder - (baseball) a person who plays in the outfield Lucio Tapia slipped before reaching the ball. Chatsworth took the lead in the fifth when Willie Cabrera led off with a walk and advanced to third on a two-base throwing error by Garcia before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Brian Lee For other uses, see Brian Lee (disambiguation) Brian Harris (born November 26, 1966) is an American professional wrestler who wrestled the majority of his career under the ring name Brian Lee. . A two-run home run by Jordan Sisson in the sixth inning capped the scoring. ``They're a good team,'' Birmingham coach Rick Weber said. ``Thay capitalized on our mistakes. You can't make mistakes against a team like this.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Chatsworth's Ryan Barba, left, and Jared Halpert miss a fly ball in center field during a 5-3 victory. Eric Grigorian/Special to the Daily News |
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