Thousand Oaks Takes Advantage of Agoura Errors for Softball Win

There were as many errors as there were hits in Thursday’s Marmonte League softball game at Agoura, so it should have come as no surprise that the last miscue led to Thousand Oaks High’s 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

The 10th error of the game put the eventual winning run on base in the 10th inning. And the 10th hit of the game--a single by Angie Nau--drove in the run.

Thousand Oaks (7-5, 5-1 in league play), tied with Camarillo for the Marmonte League lead, overcame an error-plagued second inning that helped Agoura (7-6, 3-4) to a 3-0 lead. But then overcoming adversity has been a Thousand Oaks trademark all season, according to Coach Chuck Brown.

“We’ve won several games this year after really stinking up the place and looking bad,” Brown said. “But we’ve bounced back and got the runs.”

With Agoura runners at second and third and two out in the second, Tara Driver put down a bunt which pitcher Carrie Russell fielded cleanly. But there was confusion between first baseman Amy Ecklund and second baseman Mich Argenti over who would cover first, so Russell’s throw sailed past both fielders and down the line.

Sisters Kim and Michelle Bunch scored on the error and Driver ended up at third. Michelle Ray followed with a grounder to shortstop Suzie Klusyk, whose throw to first went into the dirt, allowing Driver to score.

The Lancers wasted no time getting the runs back, and it seemed only fair they did it with the help of the Agoura defense.

In the top of the third, left fielder Ilissa Stern dropped Dani Burns’ line drive and Burns ended up at second. Klusyk followed with a chopper back to pitcher Melissa Thatcher, who threw to third, trapping Burns in a rundown.

But a wild throw struck Burns in the back, sending her to third while Klusyk took second. An out later, Nicki Ochoa hit a grounder to shortstop Wendy Baertschiger, who threw wide to the plate allowing both runners to score.

Ochoa later scored from third when Thatcher threw wildly trying to get a runner at second on a delayed steal.