Chico Beats Vigilantes in 12 Innings

MISSION VIEJO — The Vigilantes were unable to take advantage of an outstanding pitching performance by Mike Smith and lost to Chico, 5-2, in 12 innings Monday in a Western Baseball League game at Saddleback College.

Smith showed why he was recently selected as the league’s 1997 pitcher of the year. In 10 innings Monday, he gave up two unearned runs and five hits. Smith (9-4) got no decision for his 140-pitch effort. He walked three and struck out nine.

“That was a tough loss,” Smith said. “We needed to start off [the series] on the right foot. This one hurts. But the good news is we have six games left with these guys.”

The trouble for Smith, who lowered his earned-run average to 2.97, was that the Vigilantes were having trouble scoring as well.

Chico finally got the go-ahead run on one-out single up the middle by No. 9 hitter Brian Arntzen. His hit drove home Wes Hawkins, who singled and was sacrificed to second. Matt Davis added a two-run homer in the inning off loser Steve Ceterko (1-5).

Pete Magre (2-5) worked a perfect 11th for the victory and Joe Dawley allowed a hit but got the next three batters in the 12th for his 13th save for Chico (18-14).

The loss was the third in row for Mission Viejo (14-18), which is in last place in the South Division with 13 games left in the second half. Chico, which has won 13 of 18, is one game behind first-place Sonoma County in the South.

“Don’t count us out until we’re mathematically eliminated,” Smith said. “We have good chemistry.”

Mission Viejo tied it in the eighth thanks to the hustle of Willie Mosher and Bret Barberie. Mosher walked with two outs and took third on Barberie’s single against reliever Mike Guilfoyle. With Pat O’Connor pinch-hitting, Barberie took off for second and stopped about halfway. Catcher Arntzen still threw to second and Mosher broke from third. Mosher was soon trapped in a rundown but forced four throws and was able to slide under the tag of pitcher Adam Bryant to tie it, 2-2.

Barberie raced to third on the play but was stranded when O’Connor grounded out to end the inning.

Chico scored its first two runs in the fifth. Hawkins opened with a single to right and Levi Funderburk fisted a soft single to left.

Both moved up a base on a sacrifice by Arntzen and Hawkins scored on a passed ball off the glove of catcher Mike Cowell. Cowell scrambled to reach the ball near the Chico on-deck area and made a quick throw to Smith, who insisted that he tagged Hawkins. Home plate umpire Mike Gilmore, however, ruled Hawkins safe.

Davis lined a single to right to bring home Funderburk one out later.