Fishman Gives, Then Takes Away

Fourteen runs, 19 hits, four errors. So much for the expected pitchers’ duel between Cleveland’s Mike Schultz and El Camino Real’s Shaun Fishman.

Fishman and the Conquistadores came out on top Tuesday, with a 9-5 victory in a Northwest Valley Conference baseball game at El Camino Real.

The senior right-hander threw a nine-hitter and allowed five earned runs, but delivered on the mound and at the plate.

Fishman (3-3) struck out 10 batters--six on called third strikes--and walked two. At the plate, he produced two singles and a 400-foot, three-run home run in the sixth inning to put the game out of reach.

“I’ve seen (Fishman) have better stuff but he’s going to fight all the way; that’s why he stayed in,” El Camino Real Coach Mike Maio said. “And (the home run) was good for him because he’s been struggling a bit at the plate.”

Schultz, a senior right-hander considered to be one of the conference’s top pitchers, allowed six hits and four runs--one earned--before being relieved by Oscar Fernandez (1-2) in the fifth with two runners on and no outs.

El Camino Real (7-7, 3-2 in conference play) led, 2-0, before Fishman surrendered three runs in the fourth.

After striking out the first two batters, he gave up consecutive doubles to Jared Mills and Tony Cicero, followed by consecutive singles by Schultz, Max Santillan and Vince Zuniga.

“I think I was trying to overpower guys instead of being more finesse and changing speeds,” Fishman said. “But you just tell yourself you’re in control, you’re number one and they’re just getting lucky. If you keep your confidence you can overcome anything.”

Fishman’s confidence was tested again in the fifth, when the Cavaliers (7-7, 3-2) scored twice more to increase their lead to 5-2. Chris Vasquez scored on the back end of a double steal and Mills doubled in Justin Savitt.

The Conquistadores fought back to within 5-4 in their half of the fifth. Ray Leduc scored from third and Joe Merchan from second after a one-out error by Cavalier shortstop Vasquez.

El Camino Real won the game in the sixth. Josh Pfeffer walked and moved to third on a double by Woody Cliffords.

Cleveland then relieved Fernandez with Charlie Santillan, who walked Leduc to load the bases and surrendered a single to Merchan that scored Pfeffer for a 5-5 tie.

Two pitches later, Cliffords scored on a sacrifice fly by Kurt Birkins. Jesus Gallo, running for Leduc, and Merchan, trotted home when the next batter, Fishman, belted a home run to the deepest stretch of center field to close out the scoring.