Rio Mesa Clinches Tie for Title With 11-6 Win

The most difficult task Tuesday for Rio Mesa High was deciding who to select as most valuable player after the Spartans’ 11-6 victory at Hueneme. The candidates:

Robert Ayala. The senior right-hander who pitched a complete game Friday against San Marcos improved his record to 11-1. Ayala allowed just one hit in the first four innings Tuesday before leaving in the fifth with an 11-2 lead. Ayala was also 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

Damon Dicus. His 2-for-4 performance included a three-run triple in the fourth that gave Rio Mesa a 6-0 lead. Dicus also hit a ground ball in the fifth that Hueneme second baseman Danny Hicks bobbled and threw into the third base dugout, allowing three runs to score.

Dmitri Young. The 14-year-old freshman sparked the offense with a two-run home run in the first, his fifth home run. Young finished the game 2 for 5.

Coach Rich Duran would take no sides when asked to identify the game’s top player.

“Give it to the team,” he said. “Everybody did the job they needed to. Our pitching was excellent, we hit the ball well and our defense played strong.”

The win assures Rio Mesa (17-6-1, 10-2-1 in Channel League play) of at least a share of the league title. The Vikings are one game ahead of Hueneme (15-8-1, 9-3-1) and Ventura (17-6-1, 9-3-1) with one game left. The Spartans visit Santa Barbara on Friday.

“This group of kids really deserves to win the league championship,” Duran said. “We had to go to Ventura and beat them with their ace, and then we had to go to Hueneme and beat their ace.”

Hueneme starter Sam Flores (7-5) was replaced by Lupe Herrera after loading the bases with no outs in the fourth. The first batter Herrera faced, Juan Cuellar, grounded out to first, allowing Ayala to score. Two batters later, Dicus hit his triple.

Hueneme sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth, scoring four runs. Consentino Lopez hit a two-run single to center, after which Duran replaced Ayala with Anthony Espinoza.