Thousand Oaks: Bad to Worst

THOUSAND OAKS — If winning the 1995 Marmonte League title was a recent high point for the Thousand Oaks High baseball program, then Wednesday’s loss to Royal must be close to rock bottom.

Royal trounced the Lancers, 21-5, pounding out 18 hits and taking advantage of nine Thousand Oaks errors.

The Highlanders led, 6-0, after half an inning and, 21-2, in the seventh inning before Thousand Oaks scored three times against a lineup of reserves.

The Lancers (10-10, 3-6 in league play) dropped routine fly balls, threw several pitches behind Royal hitters and forced in two runs with walks.

“I’m embarrassed for our team and for Thousand Oaks High School,” said Lancer Coach Bill Sizemore, whose team had eight hits, three in the seventh. “But I don’t play between the white lines. The players need to be embarrassed too, and be willing to do something about it.”

Royal won its eighth consecutive league game after opening league play with an 18-1 loss to Camarillo. The Highlanders (12-6, 8-1) remain half a game ahead of the second-place Scorpions with five league games to play.

Tony Ortega, in his third game of the season after returning from academic ineligibility, had three hits, including two home runs, and three runs batted in.

Tyrone Kimbrough added four hits.

Royal’s Mike Byer (4-2) allowed five hits and one earned run in five innings.

“We like to joke that Tony can fall out of bed and get a hit; his talent is natural,” Royal Coach Dan Maye said. “But all the way through the lineup guys keep coming up with hits.”

Early in the season, the Highlanders were spotty on defense and alternated between lack of discipline and aggression at the plate.

In response, Maye changed his team’s practices from laid-back affairs full of the traditional batting practice and pitching drills to focused game-like situations.

“Before, guys would take 60 swings a practice and get bad habits,” Maye said. “Now, they may only get four at-bats in a practice but they’re intense and we’ve learned to make contact. If they want the extra swings they stay after practice.”

* ROUNDUP: Antelope Valley wins 1-0 thriller over Highland to stay unbeaten in Golden League play. C10