March 8, 2006

 

Junior right-hander Trent Jones (pictured) made a first-inning run-scoring double by junior outfielder Bobby Coyle stand up and the Chancellors defeated Simi Valley, 1-0, in an Easton Southern California Showdown game Wednesday at Chatsworth.

 

Jones, a 6-foot-3 right-hander making his varsity debut, held the Pioneers (2-1) hitless through 6-1/3 innings and settled for a two-hitter. He struck out three.

 

Coyle's double was one of three hit by the Chancellors (3-0). Senior outfielder Oliver Padre and senior second baseman Oscar Gutierrez had the others.

 

It is the first time from 1980 to the present that a Chatsworth team starts the season with three consecutive shutout victories. Chancellor pitchers now have a string of 19 consecutive scoreless innings. The last three shutout victories in a row by the Chancellors came last season, on May 4, 6, and 10 in West Valley League games against Cleveland, Granada Hills and Taft.

 

The Chancellors improved to 4-1 all-time against Simi Valley, which got an outstandinng performance by senior right-hander Nick Giarraputo (1-1).

 

Chatsworth is back in action Thursday at 3 p.m. in a semifinal game at Valencia (3-0), which defeated Quartz Hill on Wednesday. Chatsworth and Valencia have never met in the regular season.

 

JV losses at Simi Valley, 3-0: Freshman left-hander Michael Renner gave up only one earned run for the Chancellors (2-1), who play Valencia on Thursday at Chatsworth.