Baseball: Chatsworth Still King of the Valley

The Cleveland of Reseda baseball team hasn't beaten West Valley League rival Chatsworth in the regular season since 2002.

So when the Cavaliers finally pulled off a victory against the Chancellors on June 28 in a Valley Invitational Baseball League game, they thought they had turned a corner.

Not so fast.

The Chancellors, behind a complete game effort from Michael Renner, not only avenged the defeat last month, but won the championship game of the 32 team league in a 4-1 victory at Birmingham of Lake Balboa.

Renner gave up one unearned run on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Renner had runners on base in the first five innings but got stronger as the game went on and retired the last seven batters to end the game.

"I just tried to stay focused and keep myself plugged in," Renner said. "It was all about my defense. I count on them for everything. The defense has been there all summer."

Chatsworth scored three runs off Cleveland starter John Wilson in the second inning on a double, walk, two singles and a sacrifice fly.

Kasey Toven singled and had two RBI for Chatsworth. Andy Weissberg singled, walked and scored two runs.

Cleveland scored its lone run in the fifth when leadoff hitter Juan Perez singled and came around on a Toven throwing error.

Wilson lasted only two innings yielding three runs on four hits with two walks and two wild pitches.

The performance was in stark contrast to his combined two hit effort with two other pitchers back on June 28 in a 6-0 victory.