Camarillo Carries Momentum Into 4-A Championship

The Camarillo High baseball team, said Ken Sirak, feeds off momentum.

“And once we get it,” the Scorpion second baseman said, “we’re hard to stop.”

Camarillo definitely has the Big M these days. And it’s carried the Scorpions all the way to the Big A.

Limited to just one hit through the first five innings, the Scorpions erupted for five hits and six runs in the last two innings to defeat St. John Bosco, 7-2, Tuesday in a Southern Section 4-A baseball semifinal at Blair Field in Long Beach.

Camarillo, winner of 13 straight, takes on Fountain Valley on Friday in the championship game at Anaheim Stadium.

“This has just been an incredible season,” said Sirak, who delivered a two-out, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie. “But there’s still one game to go.”

The Scorpions (22-7) are going to Anaheim because they made the defensive plays when needed, while St. John Bosco did not.

The Braves (20-5) made five errors and one critical mistake in the seventh that didn’t show in the score book to make it easy for Camarillo.

Camarillo trailed 2-1 with one out in the top of the sixth inning when Angel Barroso singled up the middle.

It was only the second hit of the game off Kurt Stewart, who replaced starter Eugene Lemmers three batters into the game. Lemmers left the game after feeling something pop in his elbow.

Sirak followed with a grounder up the middle. Shortstop Cary Windes appeared to have a double play but bobbled the ball and got nobody.

Scott Cline then hit a roller to third baseman Kris Jondle, who threw Sirak out at second. But second baseman Jim Sterner, pressured by Sirak’s slide, threw the ball away, allowing the tying run to score.

Hugh Heath led off the seventh inning by hitting a grounder to Windes, whose throw pulled first baseman Monty McDermott off the bag. Heath was credited with a single.

Chris Lillich followed with a bunt. Catcher Mark Rael, instead of getting the sure out at first, tried to get Heath at second, but his throw was late.

Travis Willis popped up to second, but Brad Billups moved the runners along with a ground out. Barroso was then intentionally walked.

Sirak, a left-hander, then rapped a 1-1 fastball into left field, scoring two runs. Left fielder Joe Parga let the ball get by him and the third run scored while Sirak went to third.

A double by Cline and a single by Charlie Fiacco finished the scoring.

Fiacco was the winning pitcher for Camarillo, allowing just seven hits in going the distance. The senior right-hander improved his record to 9-0.

The Braves hit Fiacco well at times, but many of their long drives simply ended up in outfielders’ gloves.

“I was hit hard,” Fiacco admitted, “but our defense was good all day.”

Camarillo scored in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. With one out, Barroso and Cline walked. Fiacco forced Cline at second with a grounder.

On the next pitch, Fiacco got caught in a rundown. He eventually was tagged out, but not before Sirak scored to make it 1-0.

St. John Bosco’s only runs came in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Rael and an RBI single by Jondle.

Camarillo, which won the Costal Conference championship in football, will attempt to win its second Southern Section championship of the school year.