Conejo Valley Draws Near World Series

The Conejo Valley baseball team from Thousand Oaks is one victory from affirming predictions of a trip to Williamsport, Pa., for the Little League World Series.

Conejo Valley Coach Tom Ginther, whose son Tim is the leadoff hitter and center fielder, suspected this day would come four years ago.

“We knew we had something in the making,” said Ginther, whose team plays Green Valley of Henderson, Nev., in the Western Region championship game today at 5 p.m. in San Bernardino. “I’ve been waiting a couple years for this point.”

Most of the team played on a 10-year-old All-Star team that two years ago won the Southern California championships.

Two who did not, Cody Thomson, who will be the starting pitcher today, and John Lister, who hit the decisive homer in a 3-1 semifinal victory Tuesday against Visalia, have made the team even stronger.

“John and Cody can really hit the ball, like hard line drives into the outfield,” said Jordan Brower, who was the winning pitcher against Visalia.

Conejo Valley has been more intimidating on the mound. Thomson, Brower, Danny Leon, Tyler Karp and Sean McIntyre have combined to strike out 165 and walk 29.

Conejo Valley defeated Green Valley, 7-4, in a round-robin game last week. No team from the Southland has advanced to Williamsport since Cypress Federal in 1998.

-- Dan Arritt