Santa Barbara Gets Away From Thousand Oaks

At the end of every inning, the Thousand Oaks High reserves sprint from the dugout to the outfield fence and back. Something about keeping their heads in the game.

They burned plenty of calories Friday against Santa Barbara. The game went 10 innings.

The exercise seemed pointless anyway. With the outcome in the balance on every pitch, the head of every player, coach and spectator was riveted on baseball.

Despite managing only one hit through seven innings, Thousand Oaks pushed the Dons before falling, 3-2, on a wild throw in a Southern Section Division II quarterfinal.

The only hit was a long one, a two-run home run by Ian Corso with two out in the fifth that tied the score. Otherwise, right-hander Matt Vasquez of Santa Barbara was dominant, striking out eight and walking none in 7 1/3 innings.

Vasquez, whose fastball was clocked at 90 mph, reached his 10-inning limit for the week at that point and was replaced by curveball specialist Jose Trujillo (9-1).

But Vasquez wasn’t done with the Lancers. After the Dons (24-3) scored an unearned run in the 10th, Thousand Oaks hit three balls hard in the bottom of the inning--two to Vasquez, who had moved to third base.

He ranged to his left to handle a ground ball by leadoff batter Ryan Fitzgerald, then after left fielder Jason Schwan made a diving catch of a line drive by Brent Schilhab, Vasquez speared a line drive down the line by Billy Lockin.

“Honestly, Vasquez was as outstanding as you’ll ever see a high school pitcher,” said Fred Warrecker, the Santa Barbara coach for 28 years. “And he hit the ball and made great plays at third base, too. He dominated the ballgame.”

Vasquez singled twice and was robbed of a home run to lead off the eighth by Fitzgerald, who leaped and caught the ball above the center-field fence. At that point, Coach Bill Sizemore of Thousand Oaks summoned Chris Cordeiro (7-4) to replace Greg Simonetti, who struck out five and allowed six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

After managing only two baserunners through seven innings, Thousand Oaks stranded three runners in the eighth and two in the ninth against Trujillo.

Cordeiro, who had walked only nine in 74 innings this season, walked Raul Estrada to open the 10th and with one out walked Vasquez. Sam Campa, who had three hits and drove in Santa Barbara’s first two runs, hit a ground ball to the right side. First baseman Tracy Goebel fielded the ball moving to his right but his throw to second went into left field and Estrada scored.

The game was the last at Thousand Oaks for Sizemore, who will become pitching coach at Moorpark College, and for a tight group of seniors. Every starter Friday was a senior.

“This was a special group of guys,” Sizemore said. “They elevated the program to a new level with their commitment and dedication. The young kids in this program know what it takes to be a baseball player by watching the seniors.”