Laguna Hills Gets Past Thousand Oaks, 2-1

What is it they say in sports, it just takes one?

In Saturday’s Fountain Valley Baron Classic at Mile Square Park, Laguna Hills got two.

The Hawks scored the upset of the day Saturday, knocking off Division I power Thousand Oaks, 2-1, to advance to the second round.

Laguna Hills then made it two in a row with a 2-1 victory over Marina.

The tournament concludes Saturday. Laguna Hills (6-5) joins Pacifica, Fountain Valley and Mater Dei in the semifinals.

Laguna Hills’ victory over Thousand Oaks (7-2), ranked eighth in the state in the preseason, came at the expense of one of Southern California’s best pitchers, Jennifer Sharron (4-2).

Sharron, who lost last year’s quarterfinal to Mater Dei on a three-hitter--the only run she gave up was Lisa Tully’s homer--came on in the fourth inning and was the victim of Laguna Hills’ short game.

In the fifth inning, Kelly Anderson singled with one out and took third on Monique Kees’ sacrifice bunt and error. But Anderson was thrown out on a bouncer to the pitcher. Freshman Lesley Simien, who struck out twice against starter Kim Martin--the only two strikeouts against Lancer pitchers--slapped a line drive over the shortstop for her second RBI of the season.

“The kids did the smart thing to be successful,” Laguna Hills Coach Cary Crouch said. “Everyone thinks home run against a hard pitcher like that, and that’s how they get 18 strikeouts. Our kids choked up, shortened the bat and made themselves successful.

“We’re so inexperienced compared to them, we’re not supposed to be in the ball game. Most of our kids have not seen pitchers of her caliber.”

Thousand Oaks took the lead in the second inning. Jennifer Richards struck out, but took first on a passed ball. She then scored on consecutive singles against winning pitcher Kim Stryker.

Laguna Hills answered in the bottom of the second. Meghan O’Donnell’s line drive got past left fielder Kelsey Culbert, who tried to make a backhand, shoestring catch, and rounded the bases with her first homer.