Oaks Wash Away Riptide in 13-2 Win

Oaks Wash Away Riptide in 13-2 Win

By Micah Rodriguez 

The Conejo Oaks defeated the Orangce County Riptide 13–2 at Pirate Park. Less than 24 hours after falling to the Riptide on the road, the Oaks responded with a 16-hit performance, tying their season high. 

Right-hander Derek Turner served as the opener for the Oaks. Turner, who threw 3.2 innings against the Philippines Baseball Group on Tuesday, worked a spotless first inning with two strikeouts. 

The Oaks jumped on the board immediately in the bottom of the first. With one out, center fielder Owen Meli knocked a ground ball single up the middle and scored on an RBI double off the base of the right-field wall from catcher Tyson Reis.

Pierson Howe came on after Turner and was stellar in his longest appearance of the season. Howe kept the Riptide offense at bay through four frames, adding four strikeouts and only allowing one hit and one unearned run. 

In the bottom of the third, the Oaks offense exploded for six runs on four hits. Middle infielder Zach Nagy led off with an infield single and leadoff man Brandon Contreras singled through the right side. Meli rocketed a single up the middle to score Nagy and put runners on the corners.

Later in the inning, catcher Aiden Voyles, who came in for Reis, singled to score Contreras. A plethora of walks followed and the Oaks took a 7–1 lead into the fourth. 

The Oaks added on in the bottom of the sixth. Nagy led off the inning with a single through the left side and Contreras reached on an infield single to put two runners on. Meli moved the runners over with high chopper before designated hitter Dylan Jackson laced a two-RBI double off the wall in left field to make it a 9–1 game. A few batters later, third baseman Matthew Witkow smoked a single to right field to score Jackson and put the Oaks ahead 10–1.

The Oaks continued to pile on in the bottom half of the seventh. Shortstop Zach Mora led off the inning with a single through the left side. With one out, Contreras blooped a single to center field for his third hit of the day to put runners on the corners. Meli and Jackson followed with RBI singles to make it 12–2. Witkow then knocked his second RBI single to right field in as many innings to put an exclamation point on the Oaks best offense output against a California Collegiate League Conference opponent. 

In relief of Howe, right-hander Kyle Zahn worked an efficient three innings. Zahn scattered four hits and one run while striking out two.

The Oaks tied there season high with 16 hits as a team – it was their most hits in a conference matchup. Contreras and Meli both registered three hits in the contest. Contreras improved his CCL-leading average to .476. Jackson, Voyles, Mora, and Witkow recorded multi-hit days in the blowout win. 

In the ninth, the Oaks turned to Braden Lowe. The right-hander worked a clean ninth to close out the 13–2 win. 

The Oaks staff record nine strikeouts and induced 12 ground ball outs while only surreundering two walks. 

"On the mound, when you are in the zone pitching to contact, it keeps the defense on there toes," Head Coach David Soliz said. "There's a direct correlation between defensive play and [being] in the strike zone. The more strikes you throw, the more ready the defense is. And today we did a really nice job on the mound. All four guys allowed the defense to work."

Aftering falling to the Riptide 8–2 last night, the Oaks used some back-and-forth banter with the Riptide to their advantage in there big bounce back victory. The Oaks are now 9–7, currently good for fourth in the Southern Division.

"The guys did a really nice job at using that added incentive," Soliz said. "We put together a good inning and that really got us going."

The Oaks are back in action tomorrow at Pirate Park against the Santa Maria Indians. First pitch is at 1 p.m.