Westlake Is Well Tended by Shepard

Center fielder Jon Shepard of Westlake High has become the region’s most effective leadoff hitter.

He contributed three hits Saturday, helping top-ranked Westlake defeat No. 2 Crespi, 5-1, in a nonleague game at Valley College.

It was the 12th consecutive victory for the Warriors, who are beginning to think about the unthinkable--an unbeaten season.

No doubt, there are tough games ahead. Still on the schedule is Thousand Oaks, two games against Notre Dame and a tournament in San Jose. But Westlake has proved it’s the No. 1 team in the region.

Three times this season, the Warriors have beaten teams ranked No. 2--Crespi, Thousand Oaks and El Camino Real. They’ve also knocked off two previously ranked teams--Chaminade and Moorpark.

“They would be the favorite to win every game they’re going to play,” Coach Scott Muckey of Crespi said. “They’re good on defense, their pitching is excellent, they have power on the mound and every guy can hit. We were scratching our brains what to do.”

No one is hotter than Shepard, a senior who’s batting .595 (25 for 42). He always seems to ignite his teammates. He loves to play against Crespi. Last season, he had a grand slam, double, single and seven runs batted in against the Celts.

“We haven’t gotten him out,” Muckey said.

Westlake finished with 12 hits against Crespi (9-1-1).

“He’s been on fire all year,” Coach Chuck Berrington said of Shepard. “He’s always been a great contact hitter.”

Westlake scored two unearned runs in the first inning and got a two-run home run from Jesse Kozlowski in the third.

Kozlowski’s pitching was impressive. He threw four shutout innings, striking out four and walking none. When Kozlowski is not walking batters, few teams have a chance to beat him.

“I felt good with my control,” he said. “It’s obviously a positive thing when you’re not beating yourself.”

Kozlowski, Mike Nickeas and Cory Taillon each finished with two hits for Westlake. Brian Horwitz had two of Crespi’s five hits.

Westlake is three victories from tying the school record for consecutive victories established by the 1990 team that won 15 in a row, finished 28-2 and was led by catcher Mike Lieberthal of the Philadelphia Phillies.

“We’re battling every inning,” Berrington said.

Asked what he thought of Westlake’s chances to go unbeaten, Muckey said, “That’s pretty tough to do. Something is going to go wrong, you would think.”

But with Westlake’s exceptional pitching, anything is possible.