Teasdale, Aurand Lead Moorpark to 7-4, 13-Inning Victory

In a game in which stamina became as crucial as ability, Moorpark College’s Rob Teasdale and Darren Aurand emerged as the key players Saturday in the Raiders’ 7-4, 13-inning victory over Long Beach City College at Moorpark. The ballgame took 4 hours 20 minutes to complete.

Teasdale pitched six shutout innings of relief and Aurand drilled a run-scoring triple in the 13th to break a tie as Long Beach was eliminated from the Southern California regional of the state junior college tournament.

The victory gave Moorpark (24-12) a sweep in the opening round of the best-of-three series. The Raiders will tentatively play Fullerton at 11 a.m. Friday at Riverside College in the opener of a four-team, double-elimination regional final.

Moorpark left-hander Willie Leighton was masterful through seven innings as the Raiders built a 4-1 lead. However, Leighton tired in the eighth when Long Beach (16-23) tied the score, 4-4.

Teasdale stemmed the flow of Long Beach runs in the eighth and proceeded to battle Long Beach reliever Gaylen Heurez. Teasdale pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the 10th inning and left runners in scoring position in the 11th and 12th innings.

Heurez was equally as strong, but in the 13th--his eighth inning of relief--he issued a leadoff walk to Mike Suarez.

Aurand then delivered a triple to left-center, scoring Suarez with the go-ahead run. Aurand also scored when a relay throw sailed past third baseman Steve Thomas.

Later in the inning, Long Beach center fielder Bob Brooks helped the Raiders score an insurance run when he dropped a fly ball that allowed Henry Schelb to score.

“I haven’t been hitting lately, so I was looking for anything close I could hit,” Aurand said. “I was crowding the plate and he gave me a fastball that I could drive.”

Teasdale shut down Long Beach in the bottom of the 13th to improve his record to 7-3.

“Willie pitched great and it was the longest he has gone in his last few outings,” Moorpark Coach Ken Wagner said. “We also got great pitching from Teasdale. He usually only goes two innings.”