High School Baseball : Thousand Oaks Rides Wind, 4-3

Jim Hansen’s worst fears were realized Friday.

The Thousand Oaks coach was worried that, with a fierce wind at Channel Islands blowing toward left field his team would be swinging from the heels. And the Lancers did just that, starting with leadoff hitter Steve Sisco, who flew out deep to left. Fifteen times, Lancer batters hit fair balls--on the ground or in the air--to the left side.

Fortunately for Hansen, two sailed over the fence as Thousand Oaks came from behind to defeat Channel Islands, 4-3, in a Marmonte League game.

Thousand Oaks (15-6-1, 8-2 in league play) remained a game behind Simi Valley, which defeated Newbury Park, 6-5. Thousand Oaks travels to Simi Valley on Wednesday.

“It’s a hard thing to get the kids playing the way they’ve been playing when they come in and see the fence and the wind,” Hansen said. “Fortunately we were able to hit a few out. When you’re going good, like we are, you get some breaks.”

And breaks are just what the Lancers got. After a call went against Channel Islands with two out in the fourth inning, Thousand Oaks’ Darren Shoen hit a three-run home run to give the Lancers a 4-3 lead.

Two batters after Bob Farber’s leadoff home run to left, Dan Chergey hit a blooper that left fielder Carlos Murillo dove for. Murillo remained on the ground for a moment then threw the ball nonchalantly to the infield. The plate umpire, however, ruled the ball had been trapped, bringing Raider Coach Don Cardinal storming out of the dugout.

After the game, players and coaches from both sides said they thought the catch was made.

“I jumped and got the ball in the air, then rolled over,” Murillo said. “I made the catch.”

Thousand Oaks assistant Chuck Fick, the third base coach and closest Lancer to the play, said, “I thought it was a catch.”

Channel Islands (10-13, 5-6) managed just five hits off John Bushart (5-2), who went the distance.