THOUSAND OAKS TOURNAMENT : Pitchers Return Championship to Thousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks High received its fourth solid pitching performance in three days and beat Dos Pueblos Wednesday, 4-3, to win its tournament championship for the first time since 1982.

For many people, the time between championships seemed much longer. Lancer Coach Jim Hansen said he couldn’t remember his team’s last championship but thought it was 1979. Assistant coach Don Meinhold wasn’t sure either.

A tournament staff member finally supplied the correct date, but next year everyone should provide the correct response, as long as they remember Chris Newman’s pitching performance.

Newman, who jammed a thumb on Tuesday, held Dos Pueblos scoreless for six innings before tiring in the seventh. Billy Shoen, who threw a complete game on Tuesday, recorded the final two outs with the bases loaded and picked up the save.

“It’s great to win our own tournament,” Newman said, “but the best part is being able to take a four-game winning streak into league.”

Newman (2-2) had a one-hitter after six innings and had not allowed a Charger runner past second base. He fell apart in the seventh, however, and allowed one run on a single and three walks before leaving with the bases loaded and Thousand Oaks holding a 4-1 lead.

Shoen walked in a run but retired Rick Ford and Steve Pickering on grounders to end the game.

Although the Chargers managed only two hits, it was their defense that deserted them. Dos Pueblos (7-2) committed five errors, and all four Thousand Oaks runs were unearned.

Thousand Oaks (8-6) made the most of seven hits. Ed Hall was the only Lancer to pick up as many as two hits, finishing 2 for 2 with two runs scored.

Canyon 8, Westlake 1--Kenny Sollom pitched a three-hitter, and the Cowboys scored five runs in the first two innings on the way to a win in the third-place game.

Canyon (5-6) was led by Ray Palagyi, who was 3 for 3 with two doubles and two runs batted in.

Camarillo 5, El Camino Real 3--Jim Walsh allowed only one run and three hits over the last six innings as Camarillo won the consolation title.

Two errors by El Camino Real led the way to a four-run first for Camarillo (8-5). Kevin Ochs was 2 for 3 for the Scorpions.

Dos Pueblos 6, Westlake 5--Tim Florez scored on a sacrifice fly by Rick Ford in the eighth inning to send Dos Pueblos into the final.

This semifinal game began on Tuesday but was called because of darkness after seven innings with the score tied, 5-5.