It was the Championship final of the Easton Southern California Showdown Tournament. The game was played at UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium on a rather cool afternoon.

Hart picked up 2 runs in the 3rd on consecutive triples by Matt Valaika and Shane Carlson. Pat Sarkissian drove in Carlson with a sacrifice fly. Chatsworth made it 2-1 in the 4th on a single by Bobby Coyle and a double by Mitul Patel. Hart made it 4-1 in the 5th. Matt Valaika opened with a double. With 1 out tried to take 3rd on a ball hit to short by Ryan Gagnon, but was cut down. Sarkissian was hit by pitch. Matt Sreden singled to right scoring Gagnon. Ryan Pettersen walked loading the bases. Robert Van Scoyoc walked forcing in Sarkissian.

Steve Burton did a great job starting and pitching the 1st 4 innings. He struck out 1 and issued no walks. He kept his outfielders busy running down fly balls. Donny Williams relieved in the 5th, and only had trouble in the above mentioned 7th. Donny got his first save of the season.

Mike Mustakes of Chatsworth was the hitting star of the day. He opened the game with a double, flied out in the 3rd. against the 390 marker in center field, singled in the 5th and homered in the 7th. But Chatsworths 54 game winning streak is over.

Matt Valaika was the hitting star for Hart. He was 3 for 4 (Single, double and triple.) Shane Carlson was "only" 1 for 4 but it was a big triple. His average slipped from .667 to .563. Shane was super in the field again, making a diving stab on a liner by Chatsworth star Matt Dominguez, and later in the game, senseing a bunt, was charging in and made a diving catch on a little pop bunt in front of the plate. Ryan Gagnon was kept very busy in left field where he made 6 putouts Pat Sarkissian was hit by pitch 2 times, scoring once and drove in a critical run in the 3rd with a sacrifice fly. Matt Sreden was 2 for 2 driving in a run with a single in the 5th. Ryan Pettersen pinch hitting had to endure a pitching change in the 5th with a 2-0 count then drew a clutch walk. Robert Van Scoyoc also had a 2-0 count on him in the 5th when Chatsworth changed pitchers again. He then walked thus driving in what proved to be the winning run. Brian Charnock was stellar in centerfield where he ran down 4 long flyouts including a possible extra base hit against the centerfield wall off the bat of Moustakas in the 3rd. Kevin Baker played his usual steady game at second as Hart went errorless in it's 3rd out of 5 games.

Hart opens league play on Tuesday against Saugus at Hart 3:15 p.m.

Narrative courtesy of Mike Gaber.