Shipton’s 2-Run Homer Lifts Newbury Park, 9-7

It took a while, but Newbury Park High’s ship finally came in.

Ryan Shipton hit a two-run, opposite-field home run with two out in the top of the eighth inning to give the Panthers a 9-7 victory over Hart on Tuesday in a pool-play game of the Westside tournament at Hart.

Newbury Park (3-0) will play in the semifinals on Thursday.

Shipton, a senior center fielder who holds the school single-season rushing record in football, had three hits and four runs batted in against Hart (2-1).

He hit a two-run single in the seventh to give Newbury Park a 7-4 lead. That hit also came with two out.

“That kid is a gamer,” Coach Curtis Scott of Newbury Park said. “He can flat-out play the game.”

Jared Buckley and Joey Hamer each added two hits for the Panthers, who collected 12. Buckley and Ryan Ayers each hit their second home runs.

Left-hander Tyler Johnson (1-0) struck out seven, walked six and allowed eight hits through seven innings. Cameron Merrill retired the Indians in order in the eighth to earn his first save.

Jamie Shields, Hart’s highly regarded junior right-hander, made his season pitching debut after missing his first start because of bursitis.

He struck out seven, walked two and allowed four hits. He was charged with three runs, one earned, as the Indians committed four errors and allowed five unearned runs.

Afterward, Shields reported no soreness in the arm.

Shortstop Tim Hutting, who had three hits, took the loss in relief.