Westlake’s Victory Is Signal That It’s All Over

Westlake High’s record was kept unblemished in a pristine pitchers’ duel decided by a clean single. This was baseball in its purest form, soiled only by finger-pointing and name-calling from the coaches when the game was over.

Ryan McCarthy singled to center field to score Jon Shepard in the sixth inning and give the Warriors a 1-0 victory over Thousand Oaks on Friday at Westlake. The Warriors (16-0, 9-0 in Marmonte League play) set a school record for consecutive victories and all but wrapped up the league title by taking a two-game lead over the Lancers (14-4, 7-2).

Jesse Kozlowski (4-0) of Westlake allowed five hits and was aided by two sprawling catches by left fielder Luke Riordan, one of which saved a run.

Chris Cordeiro (4-2) of Thousand Oaks was nearly as effective, allowing six hits--all singles--while striking out nine and walking none.

“I enjoyed facing Thousand Oaks, but I’m glad we are done with them,” Kozlowski said. “Cordeiro is very tough.”

The players, many of whom were youth league teammates, shook hands and visited amiably afterward, in sharp contrast to coaches Bill Sizemore of Thousand Oaks and Chuck Berrington of Westlake.

Sizemore confronted Berrington during the post-game handshake, accusing him of making profane gestures to the Lancer dugout while giving signs from the third-base coaching box.

Berrington took exception and had to be restrained by his assistants from going after Sizemore.

“All four of our coaches saw it at the same time,” Sizemore said. “I told him that if he ever did that again, I’ll kick his. . . . They have a good team. They’ve recruited some good players.”

Berrington denied making the gestures.

“We’re class and everybody knows we’re class,” he said. “Their head coach shows no class. He’s charging me and calling me [profane names] while the kids are shaking hands. I wasn’t [making profane gestures]. That’s ridiculous.”

The players had nothing to bicker about. They left their best effort on the field.

Shepard, who is batting nearly .600, was three for three. He was thrown out on the basepaths in the first and third innings, but scored in the sixth. He advanced to second on a bunt by Cory Taillon before McCarthy’s single.

Shepard, Taillon and McCarthy combined for five hits and reached base in seven of nine plate appearances. Cordeiro dominated the rest of the Westlake order--no one after the No. 5 batter hit a fair ball.

Kozlowski was even better. Thousand Oaks had a baserunner in every inning, including two in the first, but could not come through with a clutch hit.

Brent Schilhab doubled to lead off the fifth and bring up the top of the Lancer order, but after taking third on a wild pitch, Schilhab was thrown out at home on a ground ball to shortstop Jeff Dragicevich.

With two out and Ryan Donahue on first, Adam Leavitt hit a looper to left that Riordan dived for and caught.

Riordan saved a run in the second by making a similar catch on Schilhab’s fly with two out and Ryan Fitzgerald on second.

Leavitt had two hits for Thousand Oaks and is batting .585.