VENTURA, Calif. – A six-error night by the Orange County Riptide resulted in a 7-4 loss to the Conejo Oaks on Tuesday at Ventura College.
In the top of the fifth, down 2-1, the Riptide’s discipline showed. Orange County loaded the bases with two walks by left fielder Nathaniel Pone and right fielder Alex Dolan, and a pitch that hit center fielder Trajan Rogowski.
The bat of shortstop Ryan Castro came up big when it mattered most, clearing the bases with a double that put the Riptide in front 4-2.
The lead for Orange County wouldn’t last long. At the bottom of the same inning, Zach Mora reached first on an error to start the rally, and the Riptide’s mistakes would only continue. Owen Meli capitalized on Orange County’s fourth error of the game and brought in Mora to cut the deficit to one. With two outs, third baseman Matthew Witkow drove in Meli on a single, and catcher Aiden Voyles, on a two-RBI single, erased the Riptide’s half-inning lead in the blink of an eye, putting the Oaks up 6-4.
Before the fifth-inning rallies for both teams, Conejo wasted no time getting on the board. Tyson Reis started the scoring with a base knock to right, sending Brandon Contreras home. Caden Stillwell played small ball, flew out to center, and collected an RBI when Reis tagged from third for the 2-0 Oaks lead.
It took some time for Orange County’s offense to get rolling. After loading the bases in the top of the fourth, the Riptide managed to score only one run when catcher Shawn Romero reached on an infield single, bringing designated hitter Jarret Sabol home.
In the bottom of the sixth, Conejo tacked on one more run off an error to seal a 7-4 final.
The Riptide, now 20-12, will return home and play the Philippines Baseball Group on Wednesday, July 15.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
