High School Roundup : Bushart Tough to the Last Out as Thousand Oaks Clips Camarillo, 1-0

This time, John Bushart left nothing to chance.

The Thousand Oaks High left-hander shut out Camarillo, 1-0, Wednesday on five hits in a Marmonte League baseball game at Thousand Oaks, a victory that enhanced the Lancers’ chances for a berth in the Southern Section 5-A Division playoffs.

A month ago against Camarillo, Bushart carried a shutout into the seventh before tiring. Three relief pitchers blew a 6-0 lead and Thousand Oaks lost, 7-6.

This game had a different ending.

“I went out and closed the door,” said Bushart, who lowered his earned-run average to 1.60 and increased his strikeout total to 72 in 57 innings.

Camarillo threatened in the seventh when Vaughn Wechsberg led off with a single and stole second, but Bushart struck out the next batter and catcher Judd Schlimgen picked off Wechsberg for the second out. The next batter grounded out and the third-place Lancers had pulled 1 1/2 games ahead of Camarillo (11-11, 4-5) in the race for the final playoff berth.

Bushart (6-1), who earlier this week accepted a scholarship to attend Cal State Northridge next fall, struck out seven.

Thousand Oaks scored in the first against Wechsberg--who pitched a three-hitter--when Brian Sturges reached base on a fielder’s choice, stole second and came around on two wild pitches.

Lance Martin was two for three for Thousand Oaks to raise his batting average to .412.

In other Marmonte League games:

Simi Valley 5, Royal 1--Mike Jenkins improved to 6-0 and Terry Hill notched his sixth save as the visiting Pioneers (19-2, 8-1) moved a half-game ahead of idle Newbury Park (7-1).

Jenkins, who has not allowed an earned run in his last 21 1/3 innings, yielded to Hill in the seventh with two out, the bases loaded and a 2-1 count to Rich Naranjo. Hill threw two consecutive strikes to end the game.

Westlake 5, Channel Islands 1--Tim Falksen, Keith Hess, Chuck Foster and Derek Tamburro had two hits each to lift the Warriors at Channel Islands.

Left-hander Mike Eby (5-5) got the complete-game win for Westlake (9-12, 3-6).

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LEAGUE

Bell-Jeff 6, Harvard 1--Sophomore catcher Tony Chesta had three hits and drove in three runs as the Guards picked up their first San Fernando Valley League win at Bell-Jeff.

La Salle 1, St. Genevieve 0--The Lancers scored their only run in the fourth inning by virtue of three St. Genevieve errors in a game at La Salle.

Notre Dame 8, Chaminade 4--The Knights (18-3, 3-2) erupted for six runs in the third inning at home, led by Bobby Hughes’ home run and doubles by Kevin Milligan, Pete Gulliver, Vinnie Orlando and Kevin Crosby. Cary Wichmann (8-0) struck out five in six innings for the win. Colin Havert had three hits for Chaminade (8-11, 3-2).

EAST VALLEY LEAGUE

Sylmar 6, Monroe 1--Nino Romo (5-3) scattered four hits, struck out nine and did not allow a walk in an East Valley League game at Sylmar.

Jose Contreraz had two hits, including a single that scored two runs. Romo tripled in two more runs.

NORTHWEST VALLEY CONFERENCE

Taft 5, Granada Hills 1--Glenn Nahmias went three for four to extend his hitting streak to 15 games and raise his batting average to .454 for Taft.

Adam Zutler had two hits for Taft (11-9, 7-4). Chris Brown (6-3) pitched a two-hitter.

TRACK

Rio Mesa 70, Buena 66--Scott Guerrero anchored the 1,600-meter relay team to victory (3 minutes, 27.8 seconds) to clinch Rio Mesa’s fourth consecutive Channel League title.

Guerrero also won the 400 meters in 51.7 seconds, the 800 in 2:01.7 and placed second in the 200 in 22.8. Patrick Van Scoy won the shotput at 54- 1/2 and the discus at 164-7 for Rio Mesa (8-0, 7-0).

In the girls’ meet, Rio Mesa defeated Buena, 66-55, behind three wins by senior Shannon Wiebelhaus and two by senior Angela Burnham.