Fallbrook Takes Care of Shaky RBV

The signs were not good early for Rancho Buena Vista--a rare catcher’s interference was called on the Longhorns’ Kevin Lippert with two outs in the second inning.

“How many times does that happen?” Rancho Buena Vista Coach Steve Hargrave asked.

The next batter, sophomore Matt Dunlap, lined a high fastball over the center field fence to give Fallbrook a 3-0 lead.

Things didn’t get much better for RBV in its 3-1 loss, as Fallbrook took advantage of the breaks it got and made some of its own.

The loss was RBV’s first in the Palomar League after four victories. Fallbrook (8-7) improved to 3-2 in league.

RBV (9-8-1) had opportunities to score in almost every inning, but each time, the Longhorns either missed a sacrifice bunt, hit a line drive directly at a fielder or were baffled by the off-speed pitches of right-hander Darren Buckley.

“It seemed like everything we tried came up empty,” Hargrave said. “But we didn’t execute that well, and they did. I expected them to play well.”

Buckley, who had a no-hitter for 4 2/3 innings, struck out four and walked three. He allowed just two hits and benefitted from two double plays.

“He moved the ball in and out and kept the hitters off balance with off-speed stuff,” Fallbrook Coach Bill Waite said. “He did exactly what a pitcher is supposed to do. And they had four rockets hit right in our gloves. That turned the game around.”

Except on Dunlap’s home run, his fourth of the season, RBV pitcher Donovan Crocker didn’t pitch badly, either. He allowed only four hits, none after the second inning, and struck out four.

Fallbrook scored its first run off Crocker in the first inning on a Tim Jones walk, a Jeremy Fitzgerald bunt single and a base hit to center by Danny Furleigh.

RBV scored its run on an RBI single off the left-field fence by Dave Roberts.

The Longhorns appeared to be threatening in the seventh inning when Lippert reached on a fielding error by shortstop Hector Lopez. But designated hitter Scott Lyons’ sharp grounder was hit directly at Fallbrook third baseman Steve Pack, who threw to second base to start a double play. Buckley then struck out Tony Pallatto swinging to end the game.