HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Ochoa Delivers in the Clutch for Thousand Oaks

Even though Camarillo High pitcher Laura Richardson had retired Thousand Oaks’ Nicki Ochoa in four previous at-bats, Ochoa was not the batter the right-hander wanted to face Thursday with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Richardson plays on the same Amateur Softball Assn. summer team with Ochoa and is fully cognizant that the third batter in the Lancer lineup is a power threat.

Ochoa wasted no time proving that in her fifth at-bat, ripping Richardson’s first pitch over the left fielder’s head to give the Lancers a 2-1 victory in a Marmonte League game at Thousand Oaks.

The victory gives Thousand Oaks (10-5, 7-1 in league play) a one-game lead over Camarillo (12-3, 6-2) atop the league standings.

Richardson (7-2), who continued to pitch after being struck in the right cheekbone by Angie Nau’s line drive in the second inning, threw a five-hitter and struck out 15 batters. After giving up a solo home run to Christy Collier in the third inning, she allowed just one single--a bunt by Suzie Klusyk in the sixth--through the next seven innings. Richardson retired 16 in a row after the bunt single.

But with one out in the 11th, Collier hit a single up the middle, Klusyk drew a walk and Carrie Russell was hit by Richardson’s first pitch to load the bases for Ochoa.

Camarillo had several chances to score but left runners in scoring position in seven innings.

The Scorpions tied the score in the fourth. Ginny Mike beat out a ground ball to the shortstop, advanced to second on Bonnie Billups’ bunt single, went to third on an error and scored on another error.