Runner-up Gears Up for State

Thousand Oaks, runner-up in the American Legion 17-and-under Area 6 playoffs last weekend, will play in the state tournament starting Saturday in Yountville.

Thousand Oaks (26-2) has won nine of its last 11 games with balanced offense and strong pitching.

“Everybody’s really excited about going,” Coach Joey Garcia said of the double-elimination state tournament. “The kids are on top of their games.”

Right-hander Chris Cordeiro, The Times’ Ventura County pitcher of the year last spring for Thousand Oaks High, is expected to start Saturday. Cordeiro, 5-0 with a 0.40 earned-run average, is scheduled to play in the Area Code Games beginning Monday in Long Beach, forcing him to leave the Legion team Sunday.

Thousand Oaks’ other pitchers include right-handers Greg Simonetti (8-0, 2.29 ERA) and Dillon Baum (4-0, 2.17 ERA) and left-hander Tracy Goebel (3-1, 4.38).

The team added another arm to its arsenal last weekend, when shortstop Billy Lockin (1-0) made his first start on the mound. He struck out eight, walked one and allowed one earned run in five innings of a 4-3 victory over Villa Park.