Westlake, Conejo Valley Face Playoff for Final District 16 Postseason Berth

The Westlake American Legion baseball team needed only one win in a doubleheader with Camarillo on Saturday in its District 16 finale to clinch second place and secure a berth in the Area 6 playoffs.

But Westlake lost twice, 10-0 and 8-5, to fall into a tie for second with Conejo Valley (10-7), which kept its postseason hopes alive by splitting a doubleheader with Ventura. Conejo Valley won the first game, 4-1, before falling, 13-3, in the nightcap at Ventura High.

Westlake (9-7) and Conejo Valley, which have split four meetings, will play a tie-breaking game--at a place and time to be announced--to determine the final District 16 representative.

Camarillo has already won the district title and a berth in the area playoffs, which begin Thursday at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Leading 2-1 in the first game, Conejo Valley’s Ryan Kritscher tripled home Adam West and David Skeels to preserve the victory.

In the nightcap, Conejo Valley surrended 10 runs in the second inning and committed eight errors in the game, which was halted after six innings because of the 10-run rule.