Thousand Oaks, Calif. – In the first game back after the break for the CCL Showcase game, the OC Riptide faced a setback as they fell short to the Conejo Oaks. In a 7-5 loss, this was only the team’s 2nd loss on the road. They had held onto a four-game win streak before the game but lost it in Thousand Oaks.
The Conejo Oaks snatched the early lead with Matthew Maloney (UNLV) starting on the mound. The Oaks scored four runs in the first inning. In the 13 batters, he faced after two innings, he gave up six hits and four runs. Maloney wasn’t used as a starter when he played in the Cape Cod League, and despite the difficult start, Coach Connor Spencer remains adamant that Maloney possesses the skills and potential to excel as a starting pitcher. Spencer said, “Maloney hasn’t started since he started with us last year in the summertime. I think personally, and I’ve preached this to other coaches that have scouted him and want him – he is a starter.”
Tristan LaMaison (USD) took the mound in the 3rd inning and held it down for a 3-inning outing. His performance was particularly praiseworthy, and Coach Spencer expressed his satisfaction with his work on the mound. Spencer said, “Tristan came in and did a really nice job [and] threw a lot of strikes. He was consistent from the get-go, as soon as he got out there.”
The Riptide scored one run in the 2nd inning, then the Oaks extended their lead in the 4th inning by one run. The Riptide answered with another run in the 5th, but they rallied in the 8th inning to tie it up 5-5. Reese Chapman (Tennessee) hit a 3-run home run to right field, scoring Connor McGuire (CBU) and Carter Garate (Oregon). The Oaks fought back immediately, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the 8th to seal their lead. The Riptide could not rally enough to maintain their winning streak.
T8 | REESE CHAPMAN ties it up in STYLE with a 3 RUN HOMER👊🔥‼️
(@ReeseChapman21)(@Vol_Baseball)SCORE 5-5🤝#OCRiptideBaseball #OCRiptideFamily #CCLBaseball #CCL30years pic.twitter.com/FSLj9lqWYR
— OC Riptide Baseball (@ocriptide) July 14, 2023
The OC Riptide will play the Conejo Oaks on July, 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the Great Park.
OC Riptide vs. Conejo Oaks – Box Score