Oct. 8, 2012
First in a series
After winning the 1983 West Valley League title with an 11-4 record, the Chancellors cruised through the playoffs with victories of 9-0 over Fairfax, 7-0 over San Pedro and 7-2 over Granada Hills to set up a showdown with East Valley League champion Sylmar for the Los Angeles City Section championship.
In the final, the Chancellors jumped to a six-run lead through three innings and survived a furious rally by the Sylmar Spartans to win, 8-7, in front of about 6,000 under the lights at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, June 9, 1983, for the school's first section baseball title.
Chancellors pitcher Keith Nicholson (8-2) also contributed with the bat and got the offense rolling with a two-run double in the first inning. Errors in the first and third innings allowed Chatsworth to score four runs against Dana Ridenour (11-4), who had given up only seven hits in three previous playoff games. The Chancellors got six hits against Ridenour in the first three innings.
Sylmar chased Nicholson in the fifth inning and pulled to within 8-6. Coach Bob Lofrano summoned Steve Reed, who started at third base, to replace Nicholson and the right-hander retired the first six batters he faced.
The Spartans rallied in the top of the seventh inning. With two out, Ridenour doubled and scored on Larry Sanchez's single. But Reed got Mike Hirsch to pop out to first baseman Steve Landy to preserve the victory. Reed, later a major league pitcher, was selected the game's most valuable player.
Chatsworth finished 24-5.
