Thousand Oaks is Making Marmonte Race Academic

There is no better softball team in the competitive Marmonte League than Thousand Oaks High.

The Lancers proved it Tuesday by knocking off Westlake, 2-0, at Thousand Oaks Community Park to become the only undefeated team in league play.

kern,2

Thousand Oaks (6-2-1, 3-0 in league), defending league co-champions after a 1-2 start last season, opened league against the three toughest teams: Simi Valley, Newbury Park and Westlake.

The Lancers outscored the threesome, 9-1, in the past eight days.

“We’re getting closer [to playing our best ball],” said Coach Gary Walin of Thousand Oaks.

It’s hard to believe the Lancers haven’t measured up to Walin’s expectations. Especially after their showing against Westlake (5-4, 2-1).

The Lancers pounded eight hits off Erin Voeltz--one of the best pitchers in Ventura County--stole six bases and played another flawless game defensively.

And if junior right-hander Nicole Angelo keeps pitching like she has been recently, she’ll surpass the feats of former ace Jennifer Sharron, who now pitches at Notre Dame.

“Nicole is 10 times the pitcher she was a couple of years ago,” Coach Darwin Tolzin of Westlake said. “She’s expanded her strike zone with the riseball. We’re not a bad hitting team and she took the bat out of our hands today.”

Angelo (5-2) scattered three hits, struck out nine and walked two.

“[Angelo] was solid,” Walin said. “She was getting ahead in the count and that’s what I want her to do.”

Offensive support came early. Thousand Oaks threatened in the first two innings but stranded five runners.

The breakthrough came in the third. Sheridan Fowler, who went three for four, singled to lead off. Fowler stole second base and scored on Shawna Lane’s sacrifice and a subsequent error.

Michelle Spencer’s double sparked a two-out rally in the fourth. Spencer went to third on Fowler’s third single and scored on a line drive single up the middle by Jenni Perez.

Thousand Oaks threatened in every inning, but the Lancers stranded 10 runners, including seven in scoring position.

Voeltz (5-3) struck out four and walked one for Westlake, which made three errors.