HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ROUNDUP

Oxnard 4, Channel Islands 1--Left-hander Matt Merricks struck out a career-high 18 to out-duel Brian Long and lead the Yellowjackets (13-3, 4-1) to a Pacific View League victory at Oxnard.

Merricks, who struck out 17 in a game last season, walked two and gave up four hits.

Long struck out 10 and surrendered four hits. All four runs came home on passed balls.

Channel Islands is 11-6-1, 3-2.

Rio Mesa 5, Hueneme 3--Andrew Tinoco had two hits and the Spartans (10-12, 2-5) won a Pacific View League game at Hueneme.

Mike Serrata had two hits, including a triple, for Hueneme (4-13, 0-5).

Crespi 3, Harvard-Westlake 1--Marshall Plouffe struck out seven, scattered five hits and didn’t allow an earned run for the Celts in a Mission League victory at Valley College.

Matt Wilson had two hits and drove in two runs for Crespi (13-1-1, 7-1-1).

Montclair Prep 9, Crossroads 6--Seth Epstein’s grand slam in the seventh snapped a 5-5 tie and the Mounties (10-5, 3-0) held on to beat Crossroads (8-6, 2-1) in a Delphic League game at Clover Park in Santa Monica.

Ventura 6, Dos Pueblos 3--Jason Hawes had two hits and three runs batted in for Ventura in a Channel League game at Dos Pueblos (1-12-1, 0-6-1).

Kelly Callanan had a run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly for Ventura (12-6-1, 5-1-1).

Palmdale 12, Lancaster 2--The Falcons (13-4, 7-1) defeated the Eagles (12-6, 6-2) to take possession of first place in the Golden League at Lancaster.

Quartz Hill 18, Antelope Valley 4--Carlos Burkhart had five hits and two RBIs for the Rebels (9-7, 4-4) in a Golden League game at Antelope Valley called after five innings because of the 10-run rule.