City College lost a crucial Western State Conference game to North division rival Oxnard 24-9 after suffering through one of the worst innings in Vaqueros baseball history.
This is the first time in the last 16 games the Vaqueros have lost when scoring seven runs or more.
Oxnard jumped out to an early 6-0 lead until the Vaqs’ Danny Cavaletto cleared the bases in the bottom of the fourth on a three-run double to cut the lead in half. Cavaletto went 2-for-5 in the game with two doubles and finished with four RBIs overall.
“Oxnard was trying to wear the outside part of the plate out and keep everything low,” said the Vaquero outfielder. “My initial approach was to look for something on the outer half and go with it to right field.”
The Condors tacked on one more run in the fifth to make it 7-3. Daniel Howell and Steven Keller had back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the inning to chip away at the lead and make the game 7-5. It was the second homer in as many games for Howell and tied him for the team lead at nine with Conner Rehage and Abe Ruiz. The Vaqueros have a state-leading 44 home runs total this season.
“We battled back,” said head coach Teddy Warrecker. “We cut the game to two there and guys that have been doing it for us all year on the mound just didn’t get it done today.”
The Vaqueros were devastated in the sixth inning when they gave up 15 runs on 13 hits. The inning saw 19 different Condor batters along with five separate Vaqueros pitchers. Oxnard’s starting pitcher Bryan Willson had three at bats in the inning including a solo homer and a two-run single. During his third at bat he had another home run robbed by centerfielder Taylor Lyons to finish the almost never-ending inning.
“It was a terrible day,” said coach Warrecker. “In a 15-run inning, I don’t have an explanation for what goes on.
“I can’t remember giving up 24 runs in our own park, ever,” added Warrecker. “Without being prophetic I said before the game, ‘worst case scenario, we’re in second place going into Tuesday.'”
The Vaqueros went through three different players at shortstop. Seven of the Vaqs’ nine errors were made at the position.
“Hopefully our guys can just put this behind us and just be more competitive,” said coach Warrecker. “It’s just one game during a long season.”
Seven pitchers were also exhausted in the game.
“It got away from us on the mound today,” said Warrecker.
“Our pitching has been phenomenal this year so far,” added Danny Cavaletto. “Our pitchers were throwing balls out of the strike zone and they were still barreling them.”
The Vaqueros had only 12 hits in comparison to Oxnard’s 26, including two apiece by Conner Rehage, Zach Pecyna and Chase Yost. They also struck out 11 times against four Condor pitchers.
The Vaqueros’ leading hitter Tommy White, who had game-winning hits in the last two games, missed the game with a sprained ankle.
The loss drops the Vaqueros to 7-4 in WSC North and 17-10 overall.
City College will have a shot at redemption 2:30 p.m. Tuesday when they travel to Oxnard to face the first place Condors again.
