A five-run fifth inning erased a one-run deficit and carried the Chancellors over the Granada Hills Highlanders, 6-2, Thursday in a West Valley League game at Chatsworth.

 

Junior designated hitter Mike Moustakas (bottom photo) ignited the rally with a leadoff double to the right-field corner and junior third baseman Matt Dominguez followed with a run-scoring single to center field and took second base on the throw home.

 

Senior left fielder Oliver Padre, who hit two home runs against the Highlanders on Monday, was walked intentionally and junior right fielder Bobby Coyle followed with a single to center field that drove in Dominguez. Senior second baseman Oscar Gutierrez reached on an error when the Highlanders misplayed his bunt down the first base line, loading the bases.

 

Senior catcher Kyle Barbato drove in Padre with a single to right field and sophomore first baseman James Wharton walked with the bases loaded before freshman shortstop Kasey Toven's single to left field knocked in Gutierrez to put the Chancellors ahead, 6-2.

 

Padre drove in the first run for the Chancellors (11-1, 4-0 in league play) with a single to center field in the third inning that cut the deficit to 2-1.

 

The Highlanders (8-4, 2-2) pieced together three consecutive hits to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning and went ahead, 2-0, with a run in the third.

 

Senior right-hander Jonathan O'Leary (top photo) worked 3-1/3 innings in relief of senior right-hander Daniel Simmons and junior right-hander Trent Jones (4-0) went the last 2-1/3 innings.

 

Moustakas finished with three hits and Coyle had two, including a double.

 

The Chancellors play host to San Fernando on Saturday at 11 a.m. in a Chatsworth tournament game.

 

JV defeats Granada Hills, 5-2: Freshman third baseman Ryan Cooperstone had three hits and drove in two runs and sophomore center fielder Mike Hasenfus had two hits, including a double, and knocked in two runs to back up junior left-hander Troy Cassidy (3-1), who struck out seven in six innings in a West Valley League game at Granada Hills. Sophomore right-hander Cameron Milstein worked one inning to pick up the save.

 

The Chancellors (8-2-1, 3-1) play at San Fernando on Saturday at 11 a.m.