Eby Needs No Advice to Complete 6-2 Win Over Thousand Oaks

Don’t bother Mike Eby when he’s on the mound. Just let him pitch.

Eby, a senior left-hander for Westlake High, didn’t appreciate Coach Rich Herrera’s visit in the bottom of the seventh inning of a Marmonte League game at Thousand Oaks on Friday.

And Herrera didn’t appreciate his 6-foot-2 pitcher not appreciating it.

Without anyone’s advice, Eby had coasted for six innings as Westlake built a four-run lead. But when Eby walked Bryan Corey on five pitches to begin the seventh, Herrera went to the mound and an exchange of clearly audible expletives ensued.

Eby, in effect, told Herrera to beat it. Herrera, not in so many four-letter words, told Eby to shut up and throw strikes.

Eby did. Six pitches later, after a double play and a game-ending popup, Eby (3-0) had what he wanted: his third complete-game victory as Westlake (9-0, 3-0 in league play) moved into sole possession of first place with a 6-2 win.

Shuffling a changeup and curve, Eby dealt Thousand Oaks (5-1, 2-1) its first loss with a three-hitter. He worked rapidly, making only 86 pitches. He struck out three and walked three.

“I wasn’t trying to give (Herrera) lip,” Eby said. “I just wanted to tell him that I know what my job is and I’m going to throw strikes. I was throwing strikes for six innings. I must have been doing something right.”

Said Herrera: “He didn’t want me out there. It’s like he gets in a groove and I might have gotten in his way.”

Eight times Eby needed only one pitch to retire a batter. His only mistake was a high fastball to Lance Martin, who drove it over the center-field fence in the second for his second homer of the year.

Thousand Oaks scored its other run in the third on a throwing error by Westlake second baseman Rick Wolters that allowed Brian Capella to dash home from second.

“He has great control of his pitches,” said Martin, who was one for two with a walk. “He had control of everything he threw.”

Westlake tagged three Thousand Oaks pitchers for 11 hits, including six off starter Scott Barkman (2-1), who gave up four runs.

Westlake scored a run in the first on a leadoff triple by Rob Neal and a single by Tim Falsken. Run-scoring singles by Sean Howard and Keenan McAluney keyed a three-run fourth inning. In the fifth, Keith Hess hit a two-run home run off reliever Mike Lee.