Summer fun

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers HEAD FIRST—Conejo Oaks' Brad Greve, left, slides back to the base while Santa Maria Valley's Brice Cutspec waits for the pickoff throw during a game last weekend. Greve, a Newbury Park grad who attends Oxnard College, is one of many local ballplayers competing with the Oaks this summer. They've given up summer freedom in the name of baseball, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

The Conejo Oaks, a collection of some of the area's top baseball talent, be it in college or just leaving high school, has begun its fourth season competing in the five-team California Collegiate League.

For two months, from the first week of June until the last week of July, the Oaks play nearly every day against teams such as the San Luis Obispo Rattlers, Santa Barbara Foresters and Santa Maria Valley Packers.

The players, who've just wrapped up lengthy college or high school campaigns, say they have several reasons for competing—staying in shape or hoping to catch the eye of a scout are near the top of those lists.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers CRUSHED—Westlake resident Matt Scioscia, a junior-to-be at Notre Dame, launches a pitch to left field. Scioscia catches for the Oaks. Most, however, if not all, take to the diamond day in and day out because there's no place they'd rather be.

"Commitment-wise, it can be kind of hard because I can't take any summer classes and I'm actually working right now," said shortstop Brad Greve, a Newbury Park High graduate who attends Oxnard College.

"But you have to love it if you're going to play. That's pretty much it. If you want to play at the best level you can for summer ball, this is the place to be."

Sporting a pitchingheavy 26man roster that primarily features local athletes from communities such as Calabasas, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Camarillo, the Oaks play their home games at Cal Lutheran's Ullman Stadium in what is essentially a minor-league atmosphere.

For $3, kids 12 and under free, fans are treated to nine innings of wood-bat baseball.

While interactive games for the youngsters can be a blast to watch between innings, it's the wood bats that are a big hit with the players.

"It's a lot different than aluminum, but I like the wood bats," said Jake Fiss, a senior-to-be at Sonoma State who starred at Westlake.

"You have to hit the ball perfect every time or else it's going to be an out or a broken bat."

Fiss, a 6-foot-5 outfielder/ pitcher, led the squad with a .474 batting average entering Tuesday's game against the East L.A. Dodgers.

Head coach Jimmy Stueve is in his third season guiding the Oaks. His assistant coaches are Joe Garcia, Art Espinoza and David Soliz.

Stueve, who also coaches the varsity team at Thousand Oaks, said the Oaks wouldn't be in business without a sponsorship from the Mike Scioscia Amateur Baseball Development Group, a nonprofit organization founded by Randy Riley, the Oaks' general manager, Kevin Muno and Scioscia, skipper for the Los Angels of Anaheim.

"Those guys have been absolutely fantastic," Stueve said. "They take good care of us."

When the team travels for road series, a luxury bus, lodging and food are provided.

According to Stueve, the Oaks' season isn't all about wins and losses. The team was 45 entering Wednesday's action.

"We want to be competitive, but the whole purpose of this team is that the guys get their at-bats, get their ground balls and get their work in so they can go contribute to their college teams next year," Stueve said.

While most of the Oaks' roster features homegrown talent, there are a few outoftowners, including outfielder Kenny Hatcher of Gilbert, Ariz. Hatcher is the nephew of Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher.

Scioscia's son, Matt, a catcher at Notre Dame, also plays for the Oaks.

Of the team's 26 members, only one, pitcher Cody Thomson, is still in high school. Thomson will be a senior at Thousand Oaks in the fall.

"I was a little skeptical at first because I came to a few games last summer and it seemed like some high-level baseball," Thomson said. "But I think I can compete and grow from this experience."

For a complete schedule, visit www.oaksbaseball.org.

Many of the team's home games are being broadcast online at www.KadyTV.com.