The Vaquero baseball team defeated the Victor Valley Rams 9-3, Saturday at Pershing Park, in a game featuring good pitching, aggressive base running, and a productive 4th inning.

Eight different players had RBI’s and starting pitcher Connor Whalen recorded six strikeouts over five plus innings, delighting the nearly 100 fans in attendance.

“I think it was a really good performance today, we all hit pretty well, squared the ball up, and we had a really productive day at the plate,” said returning outfielder Aaron Bauman.

The Rams would score the first two runs in the 2nd inning, after a Vaquero error, a hit to left field and a sacrifice fly gave the Rams the lead. However, Santa Barbara would respond in the 4th inning with five runs of its own.

Whalen led off the top of the 4th with two strikeouts and the defense took care of the last out, as the three disgruntled Rams players were disposed of in succession.

“I felt good on the mound,” Whalen said. “I wasn’t commanding my breaking ball as well as I normally do, but I got some tail on my fastball, and throwing strikes, and let my defense work for me, and they did, so I had a good outing.”

Santa Barbara was awarded its first run after the umpire called a balk, because Rams pitcher Scott Strunk hesitated during his delivery.

Vaquero freshman Tony Cooper followed with a hit into center field, driving home teammate Rorry Nakayama for the tying run. Cooper gave the Vaq’s the lead when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Baum. Another Vaquero hit, and aggressive base running from Danny Cavaletto gave Santa Barbara a 5-2 lead.

“I’m really pleased with the base running today, and the instincts they have on the bases,” Vaquero head coach Teddy Warrecker said.

At the end of the 4th inning, Rams’ shortstop Chris Evans yelled a profanity-laced comment in regards to the performance of his catcher Thomas Southern. A light confrontation ensued, and the two were quickly separated.

“Chris is a competitor, and he’s a freshman, he likes to say some things, and he just didn’t handle it in the right way,” said Rams’ head coach Bob Smith. “What happened was that he yelled at another player and I won’t have that on my squad, either we’re going to get along or we’re going to separate.”

The confrontation may have resulted from the Rams dismal effort in the 4th.

“Normally we’re a tight knit group, and we get along pretty well,” Smith said.

The Vaqueros would add two more runs in the fifth, weakening the Rams’ chances for a comeback.

Santa Barbara local Danny Martony, who was celebrating his 20th birthday on the mound along with his first collegiate appearance, replaced Whalen in the 6th inning.

“The birthday was good,” Martony said. “I didn’t want to tell him (Warrecker), “I don’t want to get any pity innings.”

Martony would allow only one run in his relief effort, and earned praise from Warrecker.

“I thought he pitched beautifully,” Warrecker said. “He had three pitches for strikes, competed in the strike zone, and gets the double play ball as soon as he comes into the game. (I’m) really pleased with his performance.”

The win improves the Vaqueros record to 3-1 this season.

“I think we’re more of a complete team than we were last year. Last years team was a great team, same thing, great chemistry, but in this year’s team I think there’s a better team on the field, and that we can go a lot farther in the playoffs, and possibly win it all.” Bauman said.

The Vaqueros will host Pasadena in its next home game, scheduled for 2 p.m. Feb. 10, at Pershing Park.