Hammond Hunts Tide, Reis Leaves the Yard Twice, Oaks Win 5–3

Hammond Hunts Tide, Reis Leaves the Yard Twice, Oaks Win 5–3

By Micah Rodriguez

In their last contest before the All-Star Game, the Conejo Oaks defeated their division rival Orange County Riptide, 5–3, in a late-inning thriller. Huner Hammond made his best start of the summer for the Oaks, and Tyson Reis was unconscious at the dish, going 4-for-4, headlined by a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth to break the tie. 

In the low-scoring affair, the Oaks jumped on the scoreboard first in the game's opening inning. Leadoff man Zach Mora led off the bottom half with a ground ball single through the right side on the first pitch of the game. On the second pitch of the game, outfielder Brandon Contreras lined a ball into center field, putting two on with nobody out.

Hitting in the three hole after a three-hit performance against the Santa Barbara Foresters yesterday, outfielder Tyler Antwine drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Third baseman Matthew Witkow grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but Mora scored from third to give the Oaks a 1–0 lead.

Coming off an RBI double in his final at-bat in the loss to the Foresters, first baseman Tyson Reis ripped an RBI double down the right field line to score Contreras and give the Oaks a 2–0 lead after one. 

Right-hander Hunter Hammond was electric in his best outing of the year. In his third start of the summer against the Riptide, Hammond spun five innings of one-run ball. Making his fourth start of the summer, the 6'5' Hammond only allowed one hit and one walk while adding two strikeouts. 

In the top of the fourth, the Riptide scored their lone run of the game on a passed ball to momentarily cut the lead to one, 2–1.

But in the bottom half, Reis stayed red-hot at the dish. On a 3-2 count, Reis smoked a lined shot off the scoreboard to put the Oaks ahead 3–1. It was Reis's second big fly of the season. 

Pierson Howe was first out of the bullpen for the Oaks in relief of Hammond. The right-hander worked a scoreless sixth and seventh innings before falling into trouble in the eighth. 

The Riptide, who entered the game 16-7 on the summer, only trailing the Foresters for the first seed in the Southern Division, tagged Howe for two runs in the eighth to tie the game at three heading into the bottom half. In total, Howe's struck out four in his three innings of work.

In the bottom of the eighth, Witkow looped a single to center field with two outs, bringing Reis to the plate. On a 1-1 count, he delivered the biggest swing of the game, crushing an inside fastball into the parking lot beyond right field to put the Oaks ahead 5–3. 

The sweet-swinging lefty finished the game 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, and four RBIs, earning Player of the Game honors. 

Reis finished the week 9-for-19 with three doubles, two home runs, and nine RBIs to put himself in consideration for California Collegiate League Hitter of the Week honors. 

Matthew Sanders came on in the top of the ninth looking for his second save of the summer. The right-hander retired the side to secure a massive win for the Oaks heading into the All-Star break. Sanders has only allowed one earned run in 8.1 innings with 12 strikeouts.