Szymanski Got Up at Count of 5 : City championship: El Camino Real right-hander rewards his coach’s confidence in him after rocky start.

Kevin Szymanski was battered and down.

And many counted the El Camino Real High pitcher out.

Chatsworth was toying with the Conquistadore senior right-hander early in the City Section 4-A Division championship game Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Szymanski did not look good from the start--and things were going downhill rapidly.

However, El Camino Real High Coach Mike Maio was not among the doubters. Maio knew his crafty senior would bounce back.

How confident was Maio?

“I know what to expect from him,” Maio said. “He’s been great for us all season. He knows how to get the job done.”

Szymanski rewarded Maio’s trust.

In a big way.

After surrendering five first-inning runs to Chatsworth, Szymanski did not yield another over the next four innings in helping the Conquistadores defeat the Chancellors, 7-6, and earn the City 4-A championship before a crowd of 4,500.

“This is a dream,” Szymanski said. “A day hasn’t gone by in the last four years that I didn’t dream about pitching in Dodger Stadium. I was really nervous at first.”

Said Maio: “We wouldn’t have made it here without him. He is one of the most-talented pitchers we’ve had. I have all the confidence in the world in him.”

Said Chatsworth Coach Tom Meusborn: “They definitely have a very talented pitching staff. It’s always hard to get anything off Szymanski. He’s got good stuff.”

Szymanski ended the season 10-1. He also defeated the Chancellors earlier in the season during a West Valley League game, 6-0.

“You don’t get a record like his without being tough,” Maio said. “I don’t have to tell him anything because he’s in control.

“He stays cool in there.”

Szymanski looked anything but in control during his tumultuous first inning. Szymanski, who has a sidearm delivery, allowed five runs on four hits in the inning.

He does not throw especially hard so he relies on superior control. However, the control was simply not there.

Szymanski walked three batters and was generally wild. He did not look like the guy who entered the game with a 1.16 earned-run average.

And he sure did not resemble someone who threw complete games in his previous 10 starts.

Maio worry?

No way.

“Being nervous is part of the game, especially when you’re playing in a major league park like (Dodger Stadium),” Maio said. “You just have to believe in kids. It’s them out there playing.”

Szymanski looked like a world-beater after the first-inning fiasco.

He regained his control, painting the corners and allowing only one walk before giving way to Randy Wolf with two on and none out in the sixth.

Wolf retired three straight to end the threat and allowed one run in the seventh to earn his first save of the season.

“You have to have confidence in kids,” Maio said. “If you believe they can get it done they will believe it also.”