Coyotes beaten by T.O. in Marmonte League baseball

Coyotes beaten by T.O. in Marmonte League baseball

By Wayne Harrison

wharrison@theacorn.com

Thousand Oaks battled back from a 6-0 deficit, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the second inning, and went on to beat Calabasas, 8-7, in a baseball game played at Thousand Oaks High School last Friday afternoon.

The win improved the Lancers to 5-1 in the Marmonte League (10-2 overall) and dropped the Coyotes to 1-5 (5-5 overall).

Calabasas had gone ahead with five runs in the top of the first inning, getting a two-run double from senior center fielder Daniel Hirsch, a two-run single by left fielder William Chapman and a run-scoring double by junior second baseman Milan Kacar.

In the top of the second, senior shortstop Tony Bonelli led off with a home run to make the score 6-0.

In the Lancer seven-run second, junior shortstop David Fonseca led off with a home run, junior right fielder Alex Leavitt had a two-run single, senior first baseman Brad Bird drove home three runs with a bases-clearing double and junior designated hitter Matt Lorenz knocked home a run with a single.

Behind 7-6, Calabasas tied the score in the top of the fifth when Chapman drove home a run with a one-out sacrifice fly.

But in the bottom of the sixth, Lorenz smacked a double to the gap in left-center field with two outs, scoring Fonseca, who had singled.

In the second and fourth innings, Calabasas had intentionally walked Fonseca and that provided motivation for Lorenz, the next batter in the Lancer lineup. In the second inning, Lorenz responded with a run-scoring hit and in the fourth, he flew out deep to left field.

"I was kind of mad that they decided to walk Fonzie twice to try to get to me," said Lorenz. "I just wanted to clutch up and get a big hit."

Fonseca and Lorenz said making comebacks has become a habit for the Lancers.

"We never press too much," Lorenz said. "We know we can come back, no matter what."

Fonseca said, "I knew we were still in the game. We battle back. We showed a lot of character today. I think we’ll be fine if we keep playing like this."

Thousand Oaks head coach Rod Stillwell agreed.

"So far this team has shown a lot of character," Stillwell said. "Obviously you don’t want to ever fall behind, but when we do, this team doesn’t seem to panic. They have a calmness about them. They go up there to the plate and do their jobs.

"Whether it be to move a runner over with a ground ball, to get the guy in scoring position," added Stillwell, "or bunt him over, or come up with the big hit at the right time. They’re doing a good job, showing a lot of heart."

For Calabasas, the last three losses were by one run.

"It’s been particularly frustrating the last few games," said head coach Rick Nathanson. "But I was proud of my guys today because they’re coming off two shutouts and they put six runs on the board early. With Carter (Whitman) on the mound, that’s usually good enough—he’s a terrific pitcher."

Nathanson added, "Things just went haywire in that one inning and we couldn’t stem the tide. Then he (Whitman) shut them down for the next three innings."

Joey Gerig, a junior, pitched four innings for Thousand Oaks and was relieved by sophomore Marcus Whithorne, who got the win after allowing the tying run in the fifth inning.

"We never give up," Gerig said regarding the Lancer comeback. "Most every game we come back in the end and win it."

Two years ago, four teams tied for first place in the Marmonte League, and the Lancer players and coach expect a dogfight again this year.

"I still think it’s open for anybody to win," Stillwell said. "There’s a lot of quality teams in this league."

Gerig said, "Every team in our league is tough. They’re all special in their own way."