Alstot Finds a Way

Something in Jim Alstot kicks in when he nears victory. Another gear. A shot of adrenaline.

Even when tiring, as he was during the seventh inning of a Southern Section Division I playoff opener Friday, the Camarillo High senior reaches back and finds what it takes to win.

Alstot, unbeaten in his first three years at Camarillo, improved to 10-2 this season with a complete game in a 4-2 victory over Arroyo Grande at Camarillo.

The UC Irvine-bound right-hander struck out 11 and allowed seven hits--three during a tension-filled seventh. A double off the glove of right fielder Delmon Young and two singles brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two out. But Alstot got Matt Landeros--the only player in the Arroyo Grande lineup who did not strike out--to fly out to left field.

“I was tired but I had to fight through it,” said Alstot, who threw almost all fastballs.

Camarillo (24-6) had only six hits against Landeros, who walked five, hit a batter and mostly pitched around the Scorpions’ best hitters.

He realized early Camarillo will pounce on a mistake when Young homered on a first-pitch fastball in the first inning. Shawn Mosley of Arroyo Grande (15-10) answered by blasting a homer in the second.

In the Camarillo third, Mark Cardella’s walk and Justin Peterson’s hit-and-run single set up a run-scoring single by Davey Kamatsu. Young walked to load the bases and a throwing error by the catcher trying to pick off Kamatsu at second enabled Peterson to score the Scorpions’ third run.

A single by Jacob Medina with one out in the seventh was followed two batters later by Cardella’s single to stretch the lead to 4-1.

Alstot finished and Camarillo had its third consecutive first-round victory.

“Our scouting report was that Arroyo Grande was a fastball-hitting team,” Camarillo Coach Scott Cline said. “I was a little worried. But Jimmy was flat-out dominant.”

Alstot was slow getting his arm in shape after basketball season and took losses against Hart and Lakewood, ending his 26-game winning streak at all levels in high school. “I had to light a fire, frankly, because he was not ready to go,” Cline said.

Against Arroyo Grande, Alstot’s flame lasted until the final out.