Valley Roundup : Notre Dame Stuns Chatsworth, 6-5

Notre Dame High rallied for two runs in each of the last three innings Monday to shock Chatsworth, 6-5, in the second round of the Westside baseball tournament at Chatsworth.

The Knights’ victory, however, was not without controversy, which was generated by a fifth-inning balk by Chatsworth right-hander Reed McMackin that resulted in Notre Dame’s second run.

With two out and Chatsworth leading, 4-1, Notre Dame’s Vinnie Orlando was allowed to score from third after McMackin halted his wind-up. The second base umpire made the call, unaware that the home plate umpire had apparently raised his hand to signal time out.

“You put your hand up!” said Chatsworth Coach Bob Lofrano, who protested for five minutes.

Said Lofrano afterward: “He agreed that he put up his hand. He justified it by saying he didn’t yell, ‘Time!’ ”

Said McMackin: “I’m in my wind-up, I take a step back, drop my head like I always do and when I look up his hand is up. There is no reason anybody--I don’t care who you are--stops in the middle of a wind-up with a runner at third base.”

Notre Dame Coach Bob Mandeville seemed to agree. “If an umpire raises a hand to my pitcher, I expect my pitcher to stop.”

Notre Dame sophomore right-hander Cary Wichman stopped Chatsworth with an effective curve. Wichman struggled early, as Chatsworth (1-1) struck for two first-inning runs on two hits. Wichman (1-0), however, went the distance, scattering four hits.

“The curve was working real good,” Wichman said. “We mixed it in a lot.”

Chatsworth scored two runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Senior Kevin Chong, who was three for four, singled to right field to drive in pinch-runner Chris Husted from third. The ball rolled between the legs of right fielder Chris Prince, allowing Nick Schultz to score from first.

Notre Dame (2-0) parlayed three singles into two sixth-inning runs to tie the score. Chatsworth added an unearned run in the bottom half of the sixth, but Notre Dame scored twice in the seventh.

With two out and runners on first and third, Notre Dame’s Kevin Milligan reached base when catcher Eric Johnson dropped what would have been a game-ending third strike from reliever Jason Evans (0-1). Chris Lohman scored from third.

Prince then atoned for his error with a single to score Bobby Hughes with the winning run.