The second round of WSC North play started the same way as the first on Saturday and it was hard to find the positives for SBCC in a first-place baseball showdown with Oxnard.
The Vaqueros commited nine errors and endured a 15-run sixth inning in a 24-9 loss at Pershing Park. Oxnard (19-8, 9-2) took a two-game lead in the WSC North by pounding out 26 hits, including seven doubles.
The Condors beat Santa Barbara by the same 4-2 score in the first two games of conference play.
Danny Cavaletto went 2-5 with a three-run double and four RBIs for the Vaqueros (17-10, 7-4), who had their five-game winning streak snapped.
The Vaquero dugout could only watch as Oxnard put up 15 runs in the sixth inning.
“It starts on the defensive side of the ball,” said coach Teddy Warrecker. “We commited seven combined errrors at shortstop (by 3 players). I can’t remember ever giving up 24 runs in our park or seeing a 15-run inning. I don’t have any explanation for what went on.
“Without being prophetic or anything, I said before the game that no matter what happens, worst-case scenario, we’re in second place going into Tuesday (when they play at Oxnard).”
It was Santa Barbara’s first loss in 16 games when scoring seven or more runs. Tommy White, the Vaqueros’ leading hitter who had game-winning hits in the last two outings, missed the game with a sprained ankle.
The Condors jumped ahead 6-0 in the fourth before Cavaletto’s bases-clearing double to left. Oxnard made it 7-3 on Brad Greve’s RBI single, then the Vaqueros cut it to 7-5 on back-to-back homers by Daniel Howell and Steven Keller with one out in the fifth.
It was the second homer in as many games for Howell, who now has nine bombs, moving him into a tie for the team lead with Conner Rehage and Abe Ruiz. The trio has the second-most homers in the state and the Vaqueros lead the state with 44 round-trippers. They need five more to tie the 2007 school record of 49 in a season.
“We battled back and got within two but guys who’ve been doing it for us all year on the mound just didn’t get it done today,” said Warrecker. “It’s a terrible day but it’s just one game during a long season. Hopefully, our guys can put this behind them and be more competitive on Tuesday.”
Oxnard sent 19 batters to the plate in the sixth against five Vaquero pitchers. The Condors collected 15 runs on 13 hits. Winning pitcher Bryan Willson batted three times in the inning and had a homer, a single and three RBIs.
The Vaqueros had 12 hits, including two apiece by Rehage, Zach Pecyna and Chase Yost, but also struck out 11 times against four Condor hurlers.
Oxnard …….. 211 21(15) 002 — 24 26 2
SBCC ……….. 000 322 110 — 9 12 9
Willson, Adame (6), Columbia (8), Dufratus (9) and McDonnell; McGrew, Gardner (4), Turnbull (6), Gunderson (6), Perry (6), Alvarez (6), Vasquez (9) and Keller, Trevino (8). W–Willson. L–McGrew 4-2.
2B–O: Greve 2, Reveles 2, Willson, Erb, McNally. SB: Cavaletto 2, Ruiz, Rehage. HR–O: Willson, 6th inn., none on. SB: Howell (9), 5th inn., none on; Keller (5), 5th inn., none on.
Records–OC 19-8, 9-2. SBCC 17-10, 7-4.
