Newbury Park Lets Good Times Roll in 9-2 Victory

Sure, the Newbury Park High baseball team is having a good ol’ time. And why not?

The Panthers are unbeaten in their last 14 games. They have won all five of their Marmonte League games. And everybody seems to be getting in on the action.

It is a wonder that they are not aggravating their opponents. Nothing worse than a bunch of guys having a good time as they dismantle you.

“We’re out here to have fun,” pitcher Tim Beal said after Newbury Park defeated Thousand Oaks, 9-2, in a league game Wednesday at Thousand Oaks. “At least that’s the way I see it. We just can’t lose that. We can’t get too confident.”

Newbury Park’s success has driven Coach Gary Fabricius to quote Oklahoma basketball Coach Billy Tubbs, of all people.

“Remember what Billy Tubbs said when Oklahoma was ranked first in the nation this year?” said Fabricius, who supplied his own answer. “ ‘It’s great.’ That’s what he said. Not many teams have a chance to be here. And Newbury Park hasn’t been on top in a while.”

It seems to be the Panthers’ turn now, however. They are accomplishing it with durable pitching, clutch hitting and with flair on the basepaths.

Take this game, for example.

Beal improved to 4-0 and completed his seventh game in eight starts. He scattered eight hits, allowing only two after the third inning. He struck out 10, including the side in the fourth.

On offense, the Panthers needed only six hits to score nine times. In the first inning, Eric Greene scored easily from third base on a wild pitch. The pitch from Thousand Oaks starter John Bushart bounced in front of the plate, hit catcher Jud Schlimgen in the chest and ricocheted in front of the plate.

In the third, Greene scored on another Bushart wild pitch. Greene and Brad Cleveringa each scored three runs.

Leading, 5-2, Newbury Park (14-1-3 overall, 5-0 in league play) buried the Lancers (8-6, 3-2) with four runs in the seventh.

Cleveringa drew a lead-off walk and Greene, who was three for three, singled. Geoff Black then doubled to score two runs and Danny Madsen followed with his fourth home run, a two-run blast to right field.

Thousand Oaks, which stranded nine baserunners, managed a run-scoring single by Bill Hall in the first and an RBI fielder’s choice by Brian Higgins in the second. Hall was four for four.

“We talked at the beginning of the year about doing whatever it takes to win,” Fabricius said. “And they’re doing what it takes right now.

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I like it.”

Just having a little fun.