GUNTZ GETS JOB DONE WITH GRITTINESS PITCHER'S PERFORMANCE NOT A GEM, JUST EFFECTIVE.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

No metamorphosis occurred to Joe Guntz on Tuesday night. He hasn't grown beyond his 6 feet, doesn't pitch above 84 mph and has just completed his third year on the mound.

But maybe now, the scouts beyond UCLA and UC Irvine will pay attention to the Chatsworth left-hander because he once again demonstrated the intangible grit the great pitchers have.

In beating Roosevelt for the City championship, Guntz was once again his undominant yet very effective self. He was behind in the count more often than he was ahead, yet he struck out 10, walked five, gave up four hits, retired the side in order just twice and hit one batter.

In other words, he never wowed the crowd with any single pitch but earned plenty of applause with his ability to get the job done.

And when he had finished the job, giving the Chancellors their fourth City title, Guntz had improved his season record to 14-0, his career record to 25-0 and lowered his season ERA to 1.28. He also walked off with the Les Haserot Award, given to a top player who exemplifies the former Fremont coach's desire for a job well done.

``I'm trying to get it done,'' he said. ``However it happens, it happens.''

How it happened was with great difficulty, especially in the final two innings. Guntz was ahead in the count to leadoff batter Francisco Figueroa in the sixth but hit him. After Phillip Valdez sacrificed, Guntz walked Hector Almeda on four pitches, causing Sean Richards to begin warming up.

Richards wasn't needed. Guntz got A.J. Romero to fly out to right and Ruben Brito to ground to second to end the inning.

In the seventh, an infield single and a Guntz error with one out put Raul Ramirez on second base. After striking out Joram Iboa on three pitches, Guntz walked Edgar Sedano on five pitches, then caught Figueroa looking on a full count.

``He's been that gritty, no question about it,'' Chatsworth pitching coach Matt LaCour said. ``He didn't have his full command, but that's what makes him so good: his competitiveness. ... The scouts are looking for what they're looking for. Joe can only do what he can do. He'll make some college coach happy one day. Twenty-five and oh. You can't argue with that.''

GUTSY GUNTZ

Behind the arm of Joe Guntz, Chatsworth defeated Roosevelt 2-1 in the City Championship Final Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. Guntz, a junior left- hander, pitched a complete game en route to his 14th win of the season.

IP H R ER BB SO HB TP STR 7 4 1 1 5 10 1 101 56

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Gutsy Guntz (see text)