Spiller Hurls Camarillo to 15-7 Victory

The last time Darren Spiller pitched, he was a little on the wild side. In fact, the left-hander walked the first six batters he faced and was summarily removed in the first inning of Tuesday’s win over Conejo.

On Friday, Spiller was not only in control, he was almost overpowering, striking out 10 and walking 1 in 5 innings as the Camarillo American Legion team defeated Aurora (Colo.), 15-7, in the first game of a doubleheader in the Cherry Creek Classic at Aurora Central High in Denver.

Camarillo (10-2) lost the second game, 10-1, to Albuquerque, N.M.

Spiller (4-0) allowed only three hits in the first five innings before tiring in the sixth, when Aurora scored five runs. The game was called after six innings because of the tournament’s eight-run rule.

“Up until the sixth, that was his best outing all year,” Camarillo Coach Rich Herrera said of Spiller, who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the June free-agent draft. “He just got a little tired. He sweated all the way through his undershirt and his jersey.”

Second baseman Kenny Knight homered for the second consecutive game for Camarillo and finished with five runs batted in.

Every Camarillo starter hit safely against Aurora. Knight, Juan Cuellar, Jon Swanson, Chris Sorich and Bud Wray each had two hits.

In the second game, Camarillo took a short-lived 1-0 lead in the first on Damon Dicus’ RBI single. Albuquerque (3-0 in the tournament) scored six unearned runs in the second off right-hander Matt Tackett (2-1).

Tackett retired the first two batters in the inning but two errors opened the door for John Cronicon’s grand slam. Tackett allowed only one earned run in the game, which was called after five innings because of the eight-run rule.

Camarillo (1-2 in the tournament) plays again this afternoon against an opponent that has yet to be determined.