Carson Richter’s HR powers Newbury Park baseball to win over Thousand Oaks

NEWBURY PARK — Center fielder Carson Richter hit a three-run home run in the first inning that propelled Newbury Park baseball to a 3-0 victory over Thousand Oaks in a Marmonte League game Thursday.

“Just a good team win,” said Newbury Park starting pitcher Chase Renzo. “Good to come out after yesterday and just get a W to win the series.”

Newbury Park had lost to Thousand Oaks 3-1 on Wednesday after winning the series opener 10-9 on Monday.

Newbury Park (9-7, 3-3) and Thousand Oaks (14-3, 3-3) are tied for third in league, behind Oaks Christian and Westlake, which are both 4-2 in league.

Newbury Park shortstop Tyson Laubacher and first baseman Owen Gaida each singled in the bottom of the first to put two runners on base. Two batters later, Richter, a University of Michigan commit, drove a 1-1 hanging curve ball over the wall in left-center field to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead.

“Big weight off my shoulders,” Renzo said. “I just feel a lot looser when there’s some room to wiggle.”

After a rocky first inning, Thousand Oaks starting pitcher Dane Bacon settled in. He faced one batter more than the minimum for the next four innings and struck out four.

He held Thousand Oaks right fielder Caiden Ingelhart, who entered the game batting .500, to 0 for 3 at the plate and struck him out twice.

“He did a great job of not getting rattled after one play,” Thousand Oaks head coach Hayden Cronenbold said of Bacon. “Really came back and showed us he had a little bit of grit in him.”

Renzo allowed base runners but kept finding ways out of jams. He walked two in the first, allowed two singles in the third, and loaded the bases in the fourth, but the Lancers left them stranded.

In the top of the fifth, Ingelhart dropped a ball in the outfield that allowed Newbury Park first baseman Matthew Magruder to reach second. Renzo then allowed two consecutive singles to load the bases for the second straight inning.

After quickly getting ahead, Renzo blew a fastball past designated hitter Jett Adams on the fifth pitch to strike him out. He then induced a groundout, ending another scoring opportunity for Thousand Oaks.

“At that moment, he’s our best guy,” said Newbury Park coach Curtis Scott. “You go with your best guy and he’s proven it.”

Renzo’s day ended after the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, a baserunning mistake cost the Lancers a potential rally.

Mauna Tizon pinch-hit and laid down a bunt along the third base line. Newbury Park third baseman Jack Klein charged in to field the ball, leaving third base open. Newbury Park base runner Trent Abernathy rounded second, saw the open base and headed to third.

Klein quickly raced back to cover third and Abernathy was caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out.

“He’s got to understand that he’s not the tying run or the winning run in that situation, and that he’s got to run with his head up,” Cronenbold said.

Newbury Park held Thousand Oaks scoreless in the seventh inning to win the game and take the season series 2-1.