Thursday, May 10, 2007
LAKE BALBOA — Senior shortstop Mike Moustakas hit his 21st home run to tie the state single-season record and the Chancellors defeated Birmingham, 12-1, today in a West Valley League game.
Moustakas’ two-run drive in the third inning pulled him into a tie with Chris Walston of Lakeside El Capitan High, who reached that total in 2002. The home run increased Moustakas’ state-record career total to 49.
It was a season-high 12th consecutive victory for the Chancellors (25-4, 14-0), who close out league play at Cleveland on Tuesday at 3 p.m. looking for their fifth undefeated WVL season and fourth under Coach Tom Meusborn.
The Chancellors have won 25 games or more 10 years in a row and 12 times in school history.
Senior right fielder Bobby Coyle also homered against the Patriots, his 12th this season and 20th of his career to pull to within two of third place on the Chatsworth all-time list, and hit two two-run doubles and a sacrifice fly to finish three for four and six runs batted in.
Junior right-hander James Wharton (7-1) gave up four hits and struck out six in six innings and senior left-hander Troy Cassidy struck out the side in the seventh inning.
The Chancellors took a 4-0 lead in the third inning when sophomore second baseman Kasey Toven led off with a double and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by senior center field Nick Devian. Senior third baseman Matt Dominguez walked, moved to second base on a balk that scored Toven and stole third base before Moustakas belted a pitch over the center-field fence. Coyle followed with a high drive over the right-field fence.
Dominguez doubled to right-center field with two outs in the fourth inning and Moustakas was walked intentionally, bringing up Coyle, who drove a ball to the gap in left-center field for a two-run double.
In the fifth inning, sophomore designated hitter Andy Weissberg led off with a single, Wharton reached on an error by the pitcher and Toven had a run-scoring single. Devian drove in a run with a double, and Dominguez and Coyle each knocked one in with a sacrifice fly.
With one out in the seventh inning, Devian singled, Dominguez and Moustakas walked, and Coyle produced two runs with a double.
JV: Sophomore shortstop Ryan Cooperstone was four for four, including a double and a triple, and drove in two runs for the host Chancellors in a 10-0 five-inning victory over Birmingham.
Freshman first baseman Derek Neely had two hits and three RBIs, and junior right fielder Patrick O’Connell, sophomore center fielder Andrew Klausmeier and sophomore second baseman Shawn Meusborn each hit a triple for the Chancellors (19-4-1, 10-3-1).
Junior right-hander Cameron Milstein struck out three batters in four innings and junior left-hander Casey Fry struck out two in one inning.
Top file photo: Mike Moustakas hit his 21st home run to tie the state single-season record.
Middle file photo: Bobby Coyle hit a home run and two doubles for the Chancellors.
Bottom file photo: James Wharton struck out six over six innings.
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