Camarillo walks past Oxnard, 3-2

Hunter Virant, Camarillo High’s standout left-handed pitcher, decided he needed to be a little emotional Tuesday against Oxnard in a game for first place in the Pacific View League.

“I’ve never really gotten pumped up like that,” he said. “I was yelling and trying to get everybody fired up.”

A nine-inning game that featured a pitcher’s duel between Virant and Oxnard’s Oscar Sandoval provided plenty of tension and excitement. In the end, a bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth gave Camarillo a 3-2 victory and a one-game lead with one to play.

Virant (8-2) struck out 12 and gave up two hits. Sandoval (4-2) struck out nine and gave up six hits. He has probably seen enough of Virant this season.

Sandoval had a no decision in Oxnard’s 7-2 loss to Camarillo and Virant. He was the losing pitcher when Virant no-hit Oxnard, 1-0. And on Tuesday, it was a Sandoval two-run home run in the second inning that tied the Scorpions, 2-2.

“There’s no mistakes against him,” Sandoval said. “He throws fast, has a good curveball and a great changeup.”

Both pitchers rose to the occasion when pressure was applied in the eighth inning and the potential winning run reached third base. Sandoval got a strikeout with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth. Virant got a strikeout when Oxnard had the winning run on third base with two out in the bottom of the eighth.

A tiring Sandoval gave up singles to Michael Martinez and Connor Clark to start the ninth. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Blake Doremus walked to force across the tie-breaking run.

Camarillo is 15-8 and 11-3. Oxnard is 18-7 and 10-4. Give credit to what Oxnard has accomplished considering its expected No. 1 pitcher, Jayson Balades, chose not to play high school baseball this season to play in a spring league in San Bernardino.

Sandoval took over as the No. 1 pitcher and has more than held his own.

“He pitched a heck of a game, too,” Virant said.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com