THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The postseason magic ran out for the OC Riptide in the California Collegiate League (CCL) Southern Division Championship, as the team fell to the Conejo Oaks on the road 9-2.
After ripping off a road playoff win the previous night against the Arroyo Seco Saints, the Riptide looked to carry some momentum into the CCL South Championship game on the road against the Conejo Oaks.
However, OC got off to a slow start, with the Oaks grabbing an early lead in the first inning. Three straight RBI hits from Oaks hitters Nick Leehey, Landon West and Kai Caranto helped bring in three runs to give Conejo a 3-0 lead after the first.
Despite the big first inning, Riptide starter, right-hander Andrew Parker (Cal State University of Northridge), battled to limit the damage over the next two innings.
Yet after allowing another run in the fourth, Parker’s day came to an end with the starter finishing with four earned runs allowed in 3 ⅓ innings of work.
The Oaks managed to bring home two more runs in the inning and extend their lead to a whopping 6-0 after the first four frames.
In the sixth inning, the Riptide finally got on the board, as an RBI single from first baseman J.C. Allen (University of California San Diego) brought home second baseman Camden Bates (Arizona State University).
With the number of outs left to play dwindling for OC, the team fought to get back in the game by scrapping together another run in the eighth inning off an RBI single from Patrick Hackworth (University of California San Diego).
Nevertheless, the Oaks responded to the Riptide’s late push with a three-run inning in the bottom half of the eighth to ice the game and send the Riptide home, ultimately defeating OC 9-2.
Despite the season-ending loss, manager Connor Spencer expressed his pride in how the team battled all season long.
“We dealt with a lot of adversity this summer with injuries and guys having to leave,” Spencer said. “The group that stuck around did a fantastic job of rolling with the punches. Our chances of even getting to this game were slim with the amount of bodies that we had.”
Coach Spencer believes that many of his players significantly developed over the summer and hopes his guys will now return to their schools as more complete ball players.
“I feel like a lot of guys got quality opportunities this summer, I saw a good chunk of guys make strides, and I hope those guys take it with them as they return back to their teams,” Spencer said.
Even though the Riptide fell short of the CCL Championship, the team accomplished considerable success in their 2024 campaign. The squad reached the playoffs for the third consecutive season and picked up a playoff win on the road against the Arroyo Seco Saints to make the CCL South Championship. With all the success the Riptide achieved this summer, Spencer hopes his players leave satisfied with their experience with the team.
“I hope that when they think about this summer the guys will remember their season in Orange County very fondly,” Spencer said.
