In a see-saw battle today , Hart lost 5-4 to Chatsworth in 10 innings. After leading early in the contest, Hart had to stage a 2 -run seventh inning rally , getting a clutch 2-out single from Alex Pettee to send the game into extra innings. The game ended in the bottom of the 10th when Chatsworth scored an unearned run after the first Chatsworth hitter led the inning off with a double. Cameron Stoffel pitched the first 7 innings in his longest outing of the season. Stoffel struck out 2, walked 2 , and allowed 4 runs on the day. Freshman pitcher Casey McCarthy saw his first JV action of the year, pitching well in his 2 innings of work.

After 3 innings of scoreless ball from both teams, Hart was able to get the first run on the board in top half of the 4th inning. With one out, Mattie Hernandez was hit by a pitch, then stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Jake Hovis followed with a single to advance Hernandez to third base. A wild pitch then allowed Hovis to advance to second putting runners at 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. With Alex Pette at the plate, Hernandez then scored on a ground out to give Hart the lead going into the bottom half of the 4th inning. Chatsworth quickly tied the game after 2 runners reached base on consecutive walks. A single to center field scored the first run of the game for Chatsworth, however a perfect relay from shortstop Mattie Hernandez to catcher Mike Cieszko cut down the potential go ahead run at the plate to end the inning.

The Indians answered in the 5th taking the lead again . With one out , Jenzen Torres singled to right field. Michael Morgan and Taylor Maddox then drew walks to load the bases for Mattie Hernandez. Hernandez was promptly hit by pitch for the 2nd consecutive time , forcing the go ahead run across the plate to give Hart the lead 2-1. Hart then was unable to hold the lead in the bottom of the 5th, when Chatsworth scored 2 times to take back the lead 3-2. Chatsworth added to their lead in the 6th , scoring another run on back to back doubles , to put the score at 4-2 going into the last inning.

Down to their last 3 outs of the game , Hart began their rally when leadoff hitter, Jenzen Torres reached base on an error. After a single from Brian Klocko, Taylor Maddox then laid down a sacrifice bunt to put the tying runs in scoring position with 1 out. Mattie Hernandez then came to the plate, only to be hit by a pitch for the 3rd time in the game to load the bases for the Indians. Jake Hovis then grounded into a fielders choice forcing the 3rd run in for Hart. Down to their last out, Alex Pettee came up big time, singling in the tying run to send the game into extra innings. After Hart went down quietly in the 8th and 9th innings, Chatworth threatened to win the game in the bottom of the ninth , only to see the Hart defense come up with a key inning ending double play to send the game into the 10th. The highlight play came after Chatsworth put runners at 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Shortstop Mattie Hernandez made a heads up play after forcing one runner at second, throwing home to Cieszko who threw back to Brian Klocko at third to cut down the Chatsworth potential winning run.

In the 10th , Hart threatened to take the lead , putting two runners on, but could not get the key hit to push the go ahead run across the plate. The game then ended in the 10th when Chatworth scored the winning run with no outs. Hart had 8 hits on the day. Alex Pettee once again lead the Indians in hitting with 2 singles and an rbi. Defensively, Catcher Mike Cieszko had a big day, throwing out 2 runners attempting to steal in key moments during the game. Mattie Hernandez also had a solid game, getting his first start of the season at shortstop.

The Indians begin league play on Tuesday in their Foothill league opener against Saugus.

Narrative courtesy of Del Hernandez