Defensive Gem Sparks Oxnard Over Canyons, 10-5

Oxnard College, its spirits low following four consecutive losses including a couple when two-run leads were squandered in the ninth inning, was dragging Tuesday under the hot Santa Clarita sun.

Then suddenly, the Condors awakened. Sparked by an aggressive play by center fielder Carlos Cardenas, they downed College of the Canyons, 10-5, and knocked the Cougars out of first place in the Western State Conference.

Idle Cuesta was left alone atop the standings with a 9-3 record, followed by Canyons at 9-4. Oxnard and Pierce share third at 8-5.

Cardenas set the key play in motion in the third inning when he fielded Billy Horvat’s two-out single on the run and threw out Canyons’ Bobby Corrales at the plate. Corrales, who was trying to score from second, was blocked by catcher Chris Gaston.

Moments later, Oxnard’s Pat Avila led off the fourth with a single, then scored on Tim Johnson’s two-run homer, his first of the season, to give the Condors a 2-0 lead.

“We play best when everyone is (mentally) in the game,” Cardenas said. “The guys that are playing and the guys that are not playing.”

Although Canyons tied the score, 2-2, in the fifth on two walks, a bunt single by Walt White and Robert Barrena’s two-run single to center, Oxnard answered with a six-run sixth inning to take an 8-2 lead.

Johnson and Gaston led off the inning with doubles, and shortstop Brian Lovelace capped it with a two-run double. In between, the Condors benefited from a balk, a passed ball and two walks.

“It is good to see a little offensive production,” said Oxnard Coach Dave Taylor, noting that his club is hitting just .220 in conference play.

The Condors (16-15) increased their lead to seven runs, until the bottom of the ninth when starting pitcher Juan Hernandez couldn’t get the game’s final out.

After allowing a two-out single and three consecutive walks, Hernandez was pulled in favor of Desmond Cornish, who walked another run in, then induced a ground out to end it.

“As you can see, we were up 10-3 but they were still in this,” Taylor said. “This park is notorious for big innings.”

Canyons had no big inning in it, however. In a demonstration of its Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde personality, the Cougars (14-14-1) were on a downer following their 15-2 pounding of Ventura Saturday.

“That was the fifth time we’ve had a chance to jump two games over .500 and we’ve lost,” said Canyons Coach Len Mohney.