July 14, 2006

T.O. beats Ontario, needs two more wins
By Rich Romine
Ventura County Star

The Thousand Oaks Big League baseball team needs two wins to advance to next week's Big League West Region Tournament for 16-18-year-old Little League players at Port Orchard, Wash.

Today at 7:30 p.m. at Ruth Caruthers Park, Thousand Oaks will play a semifinal game against perennial power Anaheim Katella Section 5 or the host Section 3 and District 38 champion Long Beach team. Tonight's winner will play in Sunday's 2 p.m. championship game. The loser will play in Saturday's 4 p.m. elimination game. If a deciding game is needed, it will be played Monday at 6 p.m.

Thousand Oaks defeated Mountain View Little League of Ontario 9-2 in Wednesday night's game. Anaheim defeated Section 7 champion Riverside 13-5 in the other game.

Thousand Oaks, the District 13 and Section 2 champion, is seeking to return the Big League World Series in Easley, S.C. Thousand Oaks was second last summer to host and three-time champion South Carolina. Thousand Oaks was a runner-up in the 2003 World Series.

Chad Smith was the winning pitcher in Wednesday's game, tossing a three-hitter and striking out five. He allowed one unearned run in five innings. Garratt Rau pitched the final two innings, recording two strikeouts and surrendering a run.

Cole Kahle had a hit, two walks and scored three runs. Kyle Jones had two hits and two RBIs. Kellen Fink and Stephen Notaro scored two runs.

Thousand Oaks used a four-run first inning to pull away. Cody Fierro and Notaro produced RBI singles. Brett Fick contributed an RBI double.

Coach Matt Ricatto said the offense was a balanced attack.

Ed Kitchen is also a coach and has guided the team the past four seasons. Anaheim was a state champion two years ago.

The other Thousand Oaks players are Jason Barmasse, Ryan Burchfield, Tyler Peddicord, Michael Ricatto, Mitch Rudebusch and Ben Yarin.

The opening game in the regional tournament will be July 20 at 10 a.m. against the Arizona champion. The tournament runs through July 25 and the West Region champion plays July 29-Aug. 5 in the Big League World Series in South Carolina.

Ruth Caruthers Park is located at 10500 Flora Vista St., in Bellflower off the 91 and 605 freeways.