AMERICAN LEGION AREA 6 PLAYOFFS : Camarillo, Showing No Mercy, Jumps On Claremont Early, 10-0

There was no need for ninth-inning heroics by Camarillo this time.

Camarillo (32-5) scored seven runs in the first two innings and coasted to a 10-0 victory over Claremont in the winners’ bracket final Saturday afternoon of the Area 6 Legion baseball playoffs at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Camarillo, which won two tournament games in its final at-bat, will face Claremont in today’s final at noon.

Unlike its two previous victories in the tournament, Camarillo put Claremont away early.

Camarillo used a double by Del Desamparo and three singles to score five runs in the second.

Right-hander Nathan Kaup (1-0) limited Claremont (33-21) to three hits in seven innings.

Kaup, who had not pitched since late May, struck out seven and walked one.

“The layoff gave me a chance to build up my arm strength,” Kaup said. “It’s nice to come in and help save our pitching staff.”

Kaup’s only mistake came in the sixth.

After doubling home Desamparo for a 10-0 lead, Kaup strayed from second base as his teammates gathered around the plate, thinking the game was over because of the 10-run mercy rule.

However, that rule does not take effect until after seven innings and an alert Mike Jacobs tagged Kaup. But Claremont’s reprieve was brief as Kaup mowed down the side in order in the seventh.

Only once did Claremont threaten to score and a baserunning error hurt its chances.

With runners at first and third in the fifth, Rob Clobes hit a sharp grounder to third. Eric Jue fielded it, faked a throw to first and got Rich Devine in a rundown between home and third.

Catcher Mike Muller dropped the ball while tagging Devine but Jue picked it up and got the runner.

Desamparo finished with two doubles and three runs batted in.

Arcadia 7, Ventura 6--Ventura’s attempt to rally from a 6-1 deficit fell short in an elimination game.

Ventura (24-7) had the tying run at second base with one out in the ninth but Brian Collins struck out Craig Williams and John Poehler to end the game.

Arcadia broke open a 2-1 game with four runs in the fourth.

But Ventura bounced back when Donnie Harrison tripled to drive in two runs during a four-run fifth.

Arcadia countered with the winning run in the fifth when Jason Cly scored on a wild pitch by Eric Farr.

Ventura played without Jeremy Pierce, Monty Moritz, J.C. Holt and assistant Coach Monty Moritz Sr., who were suspended for their part in a brawl Friday.