Beating Thousand Oaks Has Silver Lining for Royal

Go for the silver: more a realistic plan of attack than a concession for most Marmonte League teams this season.

With Simi Valley High showing signs of being unbeatable, Royal and host Thousand Oaks highs squared off Wednesday with their sights set on the league’s second-most precious medal.

Based on the outcome, this year’s battle for second could turn out to be a gem.

In a seesaw game, Royal rallied with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to defeat Thousand Oaks, 6-4, and maintain sole possession of second place.

The win kept Royal (7-2, 3-0 in league play) one game behind Simi Valley (9-1, 5-0), which routed Camarillo, 20-3. Thousand Oaks (6-5, 1-2), which lost to Simi Valley, 16-1, Monday, dropped to fourth.

“We had to win this game,” Royal Coach Dan Maye said. “Other than Simi Valley, everyone in this league is not very strong, from top to bottom. Sure, it’s going to be intense.”

Maybe even dramatic. Royal reliever David Vicari (2-1) worked out of white-knuckle jams in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Thousand Oaks loaded the bases with one out, but designated hitter Clint Harris, who played despite a separated right shoulder, popped up and Jamal Nichols lined out to center.

Vicari, a junior right-hander, began the seventh by throwing seven consecutive balls but rebounded to strike out the side with runners at second and third.

“In the tight games, you have to battle back, and he battled back,” Lancer Coach Jim Hansen said. “We sent three good hitters up there and he struck them out.”

The Lancers’ frustration showed in a heated, 25-minute postgame meeting.

“As a No. 3 hitter, I should be coming through in the clutch and I didn’t,” Harris said. “My shoulder is aching, but that’s no excuse. This team is going to have to shape up or we’re going to be in big trouble.”

Thousand Oaks overcame Royal’s three-run first inning to take a 4-3 lead after three innings. Harris had a run-scoring single in the first. In the second, Buzzy Ketchum laid down a squeeze bunt that drove in Josh Silverstein from third and Ryan Glass from second. Silverstein added a run-scoring single in the third.

Gene Strojek pulled Royal even in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly. In the sixth, Mike Worford delivered a game-winning, run-scoring single with two out. Jack Kocur added a run-scoring single in the seventh.