Lancer baseball is hot
as CIF playoffs approach
By Steve Ames

Special to T.O. A.

With pitching, hitting and defense all coming together, the Thousand Oaks High baseball team has qualified for the playoffs of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division II.

Last Friday the Lancers (19-6 overall, 9-4 Marmonte League) beat the visiting Royal High Highlanders 7-1 as Mike Flinkinger included a three-run homer during his 2 for 3 afternoon and David Fonseca went 3 for 3 including a double and three RBI’s.

On Wednesday last week, Thousand Oaks got the best of the visiting Calabasas High Coyotes, 5-4, as Brian Bird hit a two-run single in the fifth inning to score Eric Guillen. Jeremy Megorden, Tyler Rinaldi and Jason Bizar homered for the Lancers and Bret Montgomery (7-2) struck out nine batters while hurling the win.

On Tuesday of this week, the Lancers played the Moorpark High Musketeers, and then await word on their first CIF playoff opponent and the date of that game.

Playoffs begin May 20 for wild card teams, and the first round is May 23. Second round games are May 27, quarterfinals will be May 30 and semifinals are on June 3. Finals are June 5 and June 7. Games will be played at times to be determined

Reviewing his key hit against a tough Calabasas team, Bird said he worked the count the best he could in his favor before taking advantage of the fifth inning delivery thrown by Justin Klipp.

"It was kind of tough because I was being thrown a lot of curve balls and changeups and that was about the third fastball I saw all day," he said. "I was just looking for a pitch that I could drive and put in play and I just stroked it up the middle."

Rinaldi, a senior outfielder, said he thought he got a break on a call before hitting the solo home run in the second inning.

"He (Klipp) hung me a slider inside," he said. "The first two pitches I got outside and I kind of got a gift on the second call. I thought it nipped the corner and so did the catcher (Aaron Lowenstein) for the other team.

"I guess what he tried to give me was an inside slider and he hung it and I got my hands in the zone for it. He’s a great pitcher. Klipp is really a good pitcher. He has a strong fastball and his hammer is nice. He has a real nice curve ball."

Bizar, a senior second baseman, said–regarding his third inning solo home run–that he got a fast ball from Klipp.

"It’s not often you get a second chance. I got it because I was about to hang myself. After taking the first one that was right down the middle, he came right back with it (and) I didn’t miss it."

Montgomery, a senior pitcher, making reference to facing Drew Saberhagen, John Henry Jacobs and the Coyotes’ other heavy hitters, said he accepts the challenge.

"I just pitch where I can and try to get them out," he said. "Sometimes it doesn’t really work. I do my best and try harder on them to get them to hit my pitch.

"I try to keep it down or away or high where if they hit it, they won’t hit it well and try and get it by them anyway."

Regarding the tightening race and Calabasas, Montgomery said, "I think I was more comfortable the first couple of innings the last time than I was this game, but I still tried to go after them and tried to get them out."

Bizar said he is pleased by how the Lancers have come together this season.

"It’s the last chance for all of the seniors–four years together–and now we’re trying to take the best approach we can to winning and getting into the playoffs," he said.

"Whatever we can do, we’re going to do. If everybody plays the way they’re capable of playing we should be fine."

As to the game against Moorpark, Rinaldi said that he hoped Thousand Oaks would not underestimate the Musketeers.

"We beat them twice already, once in the San Luis Obispo Tournament, once in league," he said. "We definitely can’t underestimate them. We have to come in and play our A game. If we win that game, we are automatically in the playoffs and then we have to go and beat Moorpark and get the chance to win league.

And about playing the Moorpark team whose pitching coach is Bill Sizemore, who three seasons ago was head coach of the Thousand Oaks team, Rinaldi said, "Size knows all of our hitters real well, so he’ll know the pitches to throw us. We beat them at the San Luis Obispo Tournament 1-0, so I think this will be a good game."

Bird, reflecting on the tightness of the Marmonte League race, commented that after the win over Calabasas the race was "really close now" and added, "Four teams coming down to the last two games, it’s really, really close."

Montgomery said that the team has the strength to do well and he’s looking forward to playoffs.

"I think we have a good shot at going far in the playoffs once we make them," he said.

"We’ve come together in every aspect of the game."