SYLMAR — Emotions sped through the brain of Sylmar pitcher Isaiah Guzman during a game against Chatsworth on Saturday in the second round of the CIF LA City Section Division I playoffs.
The emotions stemmed from past struggles in clutch moments.
Guzman found Saturday’s game in his hands while his team clung to a one-run lead in the top seventh with two outs and the tying run at the plate.
The right-hander lifted his right leg, torqued his upper frame and threw a slider that caught the outer edge of the plate for a called third strike to end the game and lift No. 1 seed Sylmar over No. 8 seed Chatsworth 4-3.
Sylmar (23-6) will play Verdugo Hills on Wednesday in the semifinals. The winner of that game earns the right to play for the City Division I title at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, May 23.
“I was nervous, I can’t lie,” Guzman said. “But I had to go in there and trust my mechanics and I did and got the job done.”
Guzman, a senior, had been in crucial scenarios before but was on the wrong end of close games in the past. Guzman surrendered a walk-off base hit against Venice in the City semifinals last season.
He was determined to not let doubt surface after Chatsworth scored three runs against him in the sixth inning.
“Everyone was biting their nails but we pulled through,” Guzman said.
Sylmar coach Ray Rivera recalled the mental adjustments Guzman made and shared why the heartbreak of losing to Venice last season helped set him up for success Saturday.
“During the regular season we put him into that situation and he was throwing strikes today,” Rivera said. “He was just having a little bit of trouble with his slider. He got it figured out and continued doing what he did for us all year.”
Sylmar pitcher Rickee Luevano fires a pitch during an LA City Section Division I playoff game against Chatsworth on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Photo by Ethan Hanson, Daily News/SCNG)
Guzman relieved junior Rickee Luevano who struggled at the outset. Luevano allowed four walks and hit a batter in the first two innings but worked out of a bases loaded situation with one out by striking out designated hitter Jayden Findeis and induced a flyout from Daniel Chiclayo to end the threat.
“My teammates came out and gave me confidence to do well,” Luevano said. “They told me to relax and told me to push my way through.”
Luevano threw 5 2/3 innings, allowed one earned run with one hit and five walks and made up for the loss Sylmar sustained against Chatsworth, 1-0, on March 11.
“I came out and was too much in my head at first,” Luevano said. “We remembered that loss and both teams pitched really well. Today we came out on top.”
Chatsworth (6-23) scored three runs in the sixth inning, capped by a two-run single into center field by second baseman Vicente Martinez.
The Chatsworth season started off in turmoil. The team’s coach, Marcus Alvarado, announced his decision to leave Chatsworth two weeks before the season began. He had guided the Chancellors to the City Open Division title in 2022.
Chatsworth coach Eric Peres in a moment of reflection after his team lost to Sylmar, 4-3, in the LA City Section baseball playoffs Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Photo by Ethan Hanson, Daily News/SCNG)
Eric Peres, a former assistant coach under Tom Meusborn, was asked to be the team’s interim head coach. He guided Chatsworth to a win over North Hollywood in the first round of the playoffs.
Peres said this season was the only time he could be head coach. He’ll hand the program off to another coach.
Peres believes Chatsworth has the talent and infrastructure to restore the program to its former glory. The Chancellors have won nine LA City Section titles.
“It’s a great school, administration is very supportive, the athletic director (Esteban) Beltran is very supportive,” Peres said. “It’s a cool school, a good culture and they are coming into a good thing.”
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