Cassel’s Blooper Comes at Friend’s Expense

CHATSWORTH —  It came down to a pitcher and a hitter who have known each other since Little League.

Right-hander Kameron Loe of Granada Hills High had twice struck out his longtime baseball buddy, Matt Cassel of Chatsworth, on Thursday.

“He owned me,” Cassel said.

Then, with a 1-and-2 count in the seventh inning, Cassel blooped a single to center field to score pinch-runner Gregg Wallis and lift Chatsworth over the Highlanders, 6-5, in a Northwest Valley Conference game that matched two City Section title contenders.

Chatsworth (11-2, 4-0 in conference play) looked like a beaten team in the sixth. The Chancellors had only two hits against Loe (5-1) and trailed, 4-2, with two out.

After Jeff Spector walked, Chad Redfern singled to bring up Jason Spector, who ended an 0-for-16 slump by hitting a three-run home run over the left-field fence, putting Chatsworth ahead, 5-4.

“I tried to gas up [the pitch], got it high and [Spector] hit it pretty good,” Loe said.

Granada Hills (10-3, 3-1) tied the score in the seventh on a run-scoring single by Peter Gunny.

But Cassel’s ability to stick out his bat at the right time made a winner of left-hander Mike Kunes (4-1).

“We battled out there,” Cassel said. “We were looking for a dogfight and that’s what it was.”

Catcher Dan Frisbee, one of the hottest hitters in the City Section, homered to highlight a three-run second inning for Granada Hills. He added a double in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Peter Tuber for a 4-2 lead.

Loe, a 6-foot-7 senior whose fastball was clocked between 85 and 88 mph, kept the Chancellors’ bats mostly quiet. He struck out five and walked three in probably the biggest game of his career.

Until this season, Loe was known more for his potential. His development as a pitcher has helped Granada Hills join El Camino Real and Chatsworth among the elite teams in the City Section this season.

“He’s improved unbelievably,” said Cassel, who has played with and against Loe since they played at Northridge Little League.

Said Loe: “There were about three pitches I’d like to take back.”

Granada Hills wasn’t intimidated by the playoff-like atmosphere. Sophomore shortstop Erik Hagstrom had four assists while playing flawless defense.

“Regardless of the loss, this is one of the [best] times I’ve had playing baseball,” an upbeat Loe said. “I’m not disappointed in anything we did.”

Chatsworth received contributions from unsung players:

* Scott Drake, who played shortstop last season at Alemany and became Chatsworth’s starting catcher after Loren Devries quit the team last month, picked off a Granada Hills runner at first base in the seventh.

* Designated hitter Steve Kracow, who wasn’t starting when the season began, led off the seventh with a single to set up Cassel’s game-winning hit.

In the last two games, Chatsworth has beaten Ivan Hernandez of Sylmar and Loe, two likely All-City pitchers.

“Heck, yeah, we’re fortunate,” Coach Tom Meusborn of Chatsworth said of surviving a close call against Loe and the Highlanders.