WOODLAND HILLS -- Junior center fielder Nick Devian (top photo) belted a pitch over the right-field fence with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to end a tie and lift the Chancellors over host El Camino Real, 8-7, Tuesday in a West Valley League title-clinching game.

 

It is the fourth consecutive league championship for the Chancellors (26-2 overall, 13-1 in WVL play) and 25th overall. The Conquistadores (23-5, 12-2) dropped to second place. With one game to play, a two-way tie for first place still is possible, but Chatsworth would be the No. 1 team from the league for City Section playoff-seeding purposes because it took the season series from El Camino Real, two games to one. The Chancellors probably will be seeded No. 1 overall for the playoffs when the selections are made Saturday morning.

 

Senior catcher Kyle Barbato (bottom photo), junior right fielder Bobby Coyle and junior shortstop Mike Moustakas also hit home runs for the Chancellors. It was the 13th for Moustakas, who surpassed his own school season record, set last year. He is now the Chatsworth career leader with 27.

 

The Chancellors had a 7-1 lead but the Conquistadores rallied with four runs in the fifth and tied the score, 7-7, in the sixth inning. Senior right-hander Jonathan O'Leary (4-0) retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the victory.

 

Chatsworth took a 2-1 lead in the third inning when Devian singled, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman designated hitter Kasey Toven and scored on Moustakas' homer to right-center field.

 

The Chancellors increased the lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning on run-scoring singles by Barbato and Devian and jumped ahead, 7-1, in the fifth when senior left fielder Oliver Padre walked and Coyle homered to right field, his sixth this season, and Barbato followed one out later with his first varsity homer.

 

Devian, who finished with three hits, has two homers this season.

 

The Chancellors finish their WVL schedule Thursday by playing host to Birmingham at 3 p.m.

 

JV: The Chancellor JV team lost to El Camino Real, 7-0, at Chatsworth.

 

Photos by Dave Siegel of David Joseph Studios