Moore Shows He Still Has a Healthy Bat for Hart

Nearly two months ago, Matt Moore suddenly doubled over at the dinner table, complaining of stomach pains and ended up on the operating table undergoing an appendectomy.

His strength has returned, not to mention his appetite. He pleaded with his father to buy him chicken nuggets at a fast-food restaurant after contributing two run-scoring singles in Hart High’s 5-4 victory over Camarillo on Wednesday in a battle of top 10 teams in the Westside tournament.

Moore, a 6-foot-4 junior set to take over as Hart’s starting quarterback next season, batted .316 as a sophomore shortstop. He’s four for 10 after three games as the starting third baseman.

His father, Don, was a top pitcher at El Camino Real High and played seven years in the minor leagues.

“My dad was pretty awesome, so I hear,” Moore said.

Don’t expect Moore to follow his father into baseball. Football is his primary sport, but Hart (3-0) needs his bat to excel this season.

“He’s got a beautiful hack,” Coach Jim Ozella said. “He’s an athlete.”

Jim Alstot of Camarillo, who had a 26-0 record over four seasons, finally experienced defeat, allowing three runs in five innings.

“It had to end sometime,” Alstot said. “Better to end right now than the end of the season. I just have to forget about it and go on.”

Eric Posthumus of Hart had a no-hitter for four innings before giving up two unearned runs in the fifth.

Phil Tognetti escaped a bases-loaded jam by getting Jeff Hamilton to pop up.

Camarillo (2-1) finished with only three hits, including J.T. Bricker’s two-run home run in the seventh.

Hart was able to overcome the ejection of its top player, All-Southern Section outfielder Bill Susdorf, in the third inning.

Susdorf had a run-scoring single and was called out sliding into third. The umpire alleged he used profanity.

“I did not swear,” he said. “I did not say one bad word.”

Regardless, his ejection requires him to sit out Hart’s next game on Friday.

With Susdorf unavailable, Tognetti came to the rescue.

“It shows you we have a lot of pitching depth,” Ozella said. “This is his bullpen day and he steps up and gets people out. We did a lot of things that were exciting.”

Eight of Hart’s starters had at least one hit.