Westlake-Royal Stays a Step Ahead of the Squeeze to Win

At first they seemed like three waste-of-time pickoff throws, the kind that make some people think baseball games are boring.

But, as it turned out, those throws to third in the top of the ninth inning were the keys to Westlake-Royal’s 4-3 victory over Newbury Oaks in an American Legion District 16 game Saturday at Moorpark College.

The throws revealed to Westlake-Royal coaches that Newbury Oaks would try a squeeze with the tying run at third, so they called a pitchout and recorded a key out.

With Westlake-Royal leading, 4-3, Newbury Oaks had the bases loaded with one out. Reliever Keith Loitz threw to third three times, not trying to pick off Quincy Samora, but trying to get a peek at which way he was leaning.

On the first two throws, Samora leaned toward home, as if preparing to break toward the plate. On the third, he went straight back to the bag. “I figured they might have called off (the squeeze),” said Westlake-Royal assistant Ed Aguilar.

Loitz threw a pitchout. Samora, who had broken for the plate, was caught in a rundown. Ultimately both Samora and Andy Wilson, the runner from second, wound up at third. Catcher Ben Lemos tagged them both, and Wilson was out.

Loitz walked the batter, Ray Clinton, to reload the bases, but John Shaw grounded into a forceout to end the game.

First-place Westlake-Royal (17-3-1, 13-1 in district play) swept the three-game season series with Newbury Oaks (11-4, 9-4).