Colonial Classic Notebook : Valley-Area Neighbors Stage Florida Showdown

ORLANDO, Fla. —  The thought didn’t strike Chatsworth third baseman Joel Wolfe until he was in line at the hot dog stand after the Chancellor’s 5-2 win over Winter Park (Fla.) Wednesday.

“It seems funny,” Wolfe said. “We’ve come 3,000 miles and now we’re going to play a team only five minutes away.”

Chatsworth (8-1) plays Saugus (9-2) today in the semifinal round of the Colonial Baseball Classic. Wolfe wasn’t the only one amused with the idea of a California semifinal in the Florida tournament.

“It’s sorta nice,” Chatsworth shortstop David Waco said. “It’s kind of like a battle of the territory. Should be interesting.”

Assignments: Chatsworth will pitch right-hander Derek Wallace (2-0) against Saugus. Saugus will answer with right-hander Jeff Bodeau (4-1). Bodeau struck out 11 on Monday against Columbus (Ga.). Wallace pitched 1 innings and gave up two hits against Oak Ridge on Tuesday and pitched one inning against Winter Park to record a save.

Because Roger Salkeld only threw five innings against Waltrip, he may be see action if Saugus plays for the championship Saturday.

“I’m going to throw the championship game if we get there,” Salkeld said.

Humbled host: For the first time in the tournament’s nine-year history, host Colonial was defeated in the first round, losing to Kaiser (Haw.), Tuesday, 4-2.

Kaiser is 54-3 in the past three seasons.

“We took the hardest road in the first round,” Colonial Coach George Kirchgassner said. “We didn’t want people saying that the host team rigged the tournament. Obviously we don’t belong this year with the Chatsworths and the teams that are winning it.”

Showing their mettle: Umpires halted play during Saugus’ game with Waltrip when it was discovered that Waltrip players were wearing metal cleats. Tournament rules require plastic cleats.

Play was resumed after Saugus Coach Doug Worley agreed to play against the metal-cleated Texans, waiving the umpires’ liability in the event of injury.

“They just wanted to make sure that they didn’t have a lawsuit on their hands,” Worley said.